INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development on how many occasions his Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury.

Hilary Benn: The Department for International Development has not consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years.

Civil Servants (Overseas Visits)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what costs were incurred by his Department as a result of sending civil servants on overseas visits in each of the last 10 years.

Gareth Thomas: Figures for travel costs within administration costs budgets for years which information is readily available are shown as follows:
	
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 2001–02 2,358 
			 2002–03 2,645 
			 2003–04 10,677 
			 2004–05 12,001 
		
	
	The figures for travel reflect all domestic and overseas travel for Ministers, Advisers and Officials and include costs for all travel, accommodation and subsistence. It is not possible to disaggregate costs for Officials' travel overseas without incurring a disproportionate cost.
	Information for earlier years is not readily available and in some cases will no longer be held.
	In 2003–04, DFID introduced new procedures to draw together administration costs, including those travel costs which had previously been recorded on the programme budget. These changes have increased transparency and has enabled DFID to manage administration costs more effectively. Figures for 2003–04 onwards now include travel costs that were previously funded by country programmes and as a result are not comparable with earlier years.
	All official travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules contained in DFID's Staff Handbook and complies with the Civil Service Management Code.

EU Agricultural Subsidies

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the impact of EU agricultural subsidies on people in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development supports a range of research on the impacts of developed countries agricultural policies on developing countries. One current programme is with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) on the impacts of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) agricultural Policies on developing countries. The research outputs are available at www.fao.org/trade The Government recognise the damaging impact that trade-distorting subsidies in the EU and other OECD countries have on developing countries and we are committed to securing reductions in these subsidies, through reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the World Trade Organisation talks.
	The most recent common agricultural policy reform package agreed in 2003–04 marks a significant shift in the EU's agricultural policy. The decoupling of subsidies from production should increase the market orientation of European farmers, leading to reductions in production and disposal of subsidised surpluses abroad.
	The Government also fully supports the commitment made as part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Agenda
	to reduce, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies, and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support."
	There was progress towards this at the recent WTO ministerial in Hong Kong, where the EU agreed to phase-out its export subsidies by 2013.

Health Projects (Funding)

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what proportion of his Department's budget for 2005–06 is allocated to projects for (a) AIDS, (b) tuberculosis and (c) malaria.

Gareth Thomas: DFID will spend at least £1.5 billion on AIDS related work over three years (2005–06 to 2007–08). The Department does not have a specific target for the year 2005–06. There are no targets for the Department's spending on TB and Malaria. However, DFID has already committed to double its funding to the Global Fund for AIDS, TB and Malaria to £100 million for 2006 and the same for 2007.

HIV/AIDS

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1329W, on HIV/AIDS (paediatric care), if he will list the countries in which the UK funds AIDS programmes.

Gareth Thomas: DFID directly and indirectly supports HIV and AIDS related activities across all its 16 priority countries in Africa. These are Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In well-developed states, DFID focuses on supporting national government decision-making processes and associated institutional reforms in line with the 3 ones" principles" and uses aid instruments such as general budget support. In fragile states" where working with government has been more difficult, we have been supporting UN agencies and civil society organisations to provide a range of services.
	In Asia, DFID funds HIV and AIDS programmes in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia and China. Most are not stand-alone DFID programmes, but are jointly funded. Burma is funded through our support to the UN.
	In Latin America and the Caribbean, regional programmes cover a wide range of countries. In Latin America, the Brazil Sexually Transmitted Diseases/AIDS Programme provides technical support across the region. Focus countries are Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. In the Caribbean, the Regional Programme covers a wide range of island states, with a focus on six countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts & Nevis). A new project supporting the private sector response to HIV and AIDS is under way in Jamaica and Barbados. A programme tackling AIDS-related stigma and discrimination covers all countries in the Caribbean.
	In the Overseas Territories, support is provided to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre to provide technical support and services for all of the Caribbean Overseas Territories (Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Anguilla).
	In Europe and Central Asia, DFID supports HIV and AIDS programmes in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), through a programme working jointly with the World Bank. Flexible technical assistance programmes are also funded in Central Asia, Russia, Ukraine and Serbia and Montenegro, working with the Joint United Nation Programme for HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

HIV/AIDS

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 6 December 2005, Official Report, column 1189W, to the hon. Member for South-West Surrey (Mr. Hunt) on HIV/AIDS, what progress has been made since the publication of the good practice framework in March 2005 towards (a) increasing access to paediatric medicines and (b) stimulating research and development into paediatric formulations.

Gareth Thomas: DFID published 'Increasing People's Access to Essential Medicines in Developing Countries: a Framework for Good Practice in the Pharmaceutical Industry' in March 2005, with widespread pharmaceutical industry support. The framework was developed in close consultation with the industry and with its stakeholders, including the World Health Organisation (WHO), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and institutional investors. The framework, which recommends increased research and development into treatment and vaccinations for children, builds on the good work of many of the companies in the industry, and encourages pharmaceutical companies to go further by:
	Engaging in widespread differential pricing of essential medicines in developing countries, especially the world's poorest, with particular attention given to patented medicines.
	Increasing research and development investment for diseases affecting developing countries, including through public private partnerships.
	Working to support broader health and development goals in developing countries.
	and, increasing reporting and transparency around access to medicines activities.
	The first recommendation related to research and development encouraged increased investment in medicines and vaccines for children. This issue has been discussed with pharmaceutical companies on a number of occasions since the launch, including at a well attended meeting of pharmaceutical companies and Government Departments on 30 September last year. Another meeting was held on 31 January to discuss differential pricing to make medicines cheaper in developing countries. The next meeting of the group will focus on paediatric issues.
	The UK Government have also made significant progress on developing innovative financing to incentivise increased investment in research and development, including for paediatric formulations of medicines such as antiretroviral medicines. Research and development tax credits to increase investment in research and development for medicines and vaccines for AIDS, TB and Malaria were introduced in 2002. Last year the UK Government launched the international finance facility for immunisation, and announced plans for advanced market commitments to prompt the development of new medicines and vaccines for diseases affecting developing countries, including for paediatric formulations.
	DFID also supports specific research on health in developing countries, including work on communicable diseases, sexual and reproductive health, maternal and paediatric health and HIV. DFID has funded research on the appropriate use of existing medicines in developing country settings including, clinical trials demonstrating the efficacy of co-trimoxazole prophylaxis in reducing mortality among children living with HIV and co-funding of the Development of Antiretroviral Treatment in Africa (DART) Trials with the Medical Research Council (MRC) exploring HIV treatment in resource limited settings, including for children and other vulnerable groups.

Millennium Development Goals

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements have been made by the UK to deliver the commitment made at the Millennium Review Summit of September 2005 to support comprehensive national strategies to achieve the millennium development goals by providing the necessary increases in aid of sufficient quality and timeliness.

Hilary Benn: The UK has argued strongly for increased levels of aid and debt relief to support partner countries in implementing strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Commitments made by European and G8 governments last year will increase global aid from $79 billion in 2004 to $129 billion in 2010. The UK wants to increase the impact of this by creating the International Finance Facility. Governments also made commitments on improving the quality of aid, by providing more direct support to partner governments'.
	The UK has published expenditure plans for 2005–06 to 2007–08, and we intend to meet by 2013, the UN target of providing 0.7 per cent. of gross national income (GNI) as development assistance.
	The United Kingdom's proposals for supporting countries to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals are set out in the paper From Commitment to Action" prepared by the Department for International Development (DFID) and Her Majesty's Treasury. I have arranged for copies of this document to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Millennium Development Goals

Anne Milton: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what paediatric-centred policies have been put in place further to the Department's commitment to focus on the needs of children in the publication of its 2004 HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care Policy.

Gareth Thomas: DFID's HIV and AIDS Treatment and Care Policy, published in July 2004 alongside the UK's strategy for tackling HIV and AIDS in the developing world, focuses on supporting countries to develop and implement their own country specific policies using guidance from multilateral such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), organisations that receive regular DFID funding. Like the rest of the international community DFID relies on the WHO for technical guidance on these issues.
	In November 2004, the Medical Research Council's (MRC) clinical trials unit reported that using a widely available antibiotic drug could cut AIDS-related deaths in children after infancy by 43 per cent., by stopping infections associated with a weakened immune system. The outcome of the DFID-funded trial is that co-trimoxazole is now in the WHO paediatric treatment guidelines for children with HIV, and is now regarded as standard treatment even in the poorest countries. The treatment was also found to reduce the need for children's hospital admissions by 23 per cent.
	In December 2004, DFID and the MRC jointly funded (£4.7 million) the Antiretroviral Therapy Research for Children (ARROW), run by the MRC clinical trials unit. The trial will address ways of providing antiretroviral therapy to children in resource poor settings and could both reduce costs of treatment as well as reducing side effects, and will begin in the next few months.
	The UK is co-hosting, with UNICEF, the Global Partners Forum for Children and AIDS on 9 and 10 February. The forum will focus on key blockages to scaling up towards universal access to prevention, treatment and care for children. Paediatric treatment is one of the six key areas.
	DFID has regular meetings with the pharmaceutical industry to advance the framework for good practice in the pharmaceutical industry, published in March 2005. The next meeting of this group will be dedicated to discussions on paediatric treatment.

SOLICITOR-GENERAL

Departmental Responsibilities

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor General if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of each directorate in the (a) Treasury's Solicitor's Department, (b) Serious Fraud Office and (c) Crown Prosecution Service.

Mike O'Brien: The responsibilities of the directorates in each of the three Departments are shown as follows:
	(a) Treasury Solicitor's Department
	Litigation group: Provides civil litigation services to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies.
	Employment and Commercial Practices Group: provides employment litigation ,and/or advisory services and gives advice on general contractual issues to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies.
	The Department-specific Advisory Divisions, several co-located with client Departments, provide legal support for all aspects of the client Department's work.
	The European Division provides and co-ordinates legal services in support of the Government's policies in relation to the European Union, including conducting all litigation on behalf of the U.K. in the European Court of Justice.
	The Bona Vacantia Division raises money from the estates of those who die intestate, and from the assets of devolved companies, on behalf of the Crown.
	The Government Legal Service Secretariat supports the Treasury Solicitor (Head of the GLS) and GLS teams on a range of management and professional issues affecting more than one Department.
	The Directorate of Corporate Strategy is responsible for planning and implementing strategic, business and policy development throughout the Agency.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department's Estimate also covers funding for HMCPS, and for the Attorney General's Office, which provides legal and policy advice and support to the Law Officers,
	(b) Serious Fraud Office
	The SFO has five investigation and prosecution divisions, each containing a number of multi-disciplinary case teams comprising lawyers, financial investigators and support staff. These divisions are supported by:
	Accountancy Support and Forensic Computing—the former allocating support from a central resource; the latter responsible for the seizure, processing and analysis of all electronic-based evidence.
	Asset Recovery Unit, which provides assistance on and handles applications for restraint and confiscation orders.
	Finance and Establishment Division.
	Mutual Legal Assistance Unit, which assists overseas authorities where there is evidence in England, Wales or N. Ireland relating to a suspected fraud overseas.
	(c) Crown Prosecution Service
	Policy Directorate: developing prosecution policy and providing practical guidance to CPS staff, as well as representing the interests of the CPS within the CJS.
	Business Development Directorate: supporting and monitoring the 42 CPS areas in delivering Criminal Justice targets, and in the coordination and implementation of change.
	Finance Directorate: developing and managing the planning and financial management framework, dealing with spending reviews etc.
	Human Resources Directorate: supporting the CPS on all issues relating to people employed within the Service.
	Business Information Systems Directorate: responsible for all aspects of the development and delivery of the CPS' Information and Communications Strategy.
	Organised Crime Division: set up to provide a dedicated service to SOCA.
	Special Crime Division: prosecutes/assists the prosecution of the most sensitive, specialised and novel cases.
	Counter Terrorism Division: advises on, and prosecutes, cases of terrorism, incitement to racial hatred, war crimes, official secrets and other offences within the definition of state crime".
	Equality and Diversity Unit: Develops and supports the CPS equality and diversity policy.

HOUSE OF COMMONS COMMISSION

Press Dining Room

Jim Dowd: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission for what reason a one-way electronic lock and alarm has been fitted to the fire exit door from the Upper Committee Corridor North to the Press Dining Room; how much this cost; and what assessment has been made of the impact on the safety of those using the Press Dining Room in the event of an emergency.

Nick Harvey: The mechanical alarmed door lock between the Upper Committee Corridor staircase and the Press Dining Room has been in situ for many years. It is designed to allow people to escape in an emergency from the staircase into the Dining Room. The fire risk assessment does not identify a requirement for escape in the opposite direction. The cost of installation is unknown.

Westminster Hall

Andrew Dismore: To ask the hon. Member for North Devon, representing the House of Commons Commission if the Commission will consider (a) replacing the temporary boarding fencing off Westminster Hall for building works with perspex screens and (b) creating perspex windows in the boards to allow visitors to the Palace and Officers to view Westminster Hall and the progress of works there until normal access is restored.

Nick Harvey: Portholes are to be cut into the screen to allow a view of the works in progress and they will be complemented by a temporary information display. A photo montage is in the course of preparation which will give Members, staff and visitors a view of Westminster Hall.

CONSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS

Coroners

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what plans the Department has to reform the law in relation to coroners.

Harriet Harman: I intend to publish a draft Bill to reform the law in relation to coroners in the late spring. I plan to make a further statement shortly.

Coroners

Oliver Heald: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what representations she has received from the Hertfordshire coroner on the powers available to him to conduct appropriate inquiries into the Potter's Bar rail crash; and what response she has made to those representations.

Harriet Harman: The Hertfordshire coroner wrote to my officials on 8 November 2005 questioning the adequacy of his powers to conduct inquests which would effectively investigate the fatalities arising from the Potters Bar rail crash. He stated that if such inquests went ahead, his other inquests would be delayed as a result. He further indicated that he would seek to appoint a judge as his deputy to conduct the inquests. It has been agreed in principle that a judge would be released to conduct the inquests and the coroner has been informed of this.

Court Service

Mark Harper: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what the average length of time was for the Court Service to notify the police of conviction details following a verdict in court for (a) all offences and (b) offences which require amendment of the sexual offenders register in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Harriet Harman: Information about the average length of time for the Courts Service to notify the police of conviction details following a verdict in court for (a) , all offences and (b) offences which require amendment of the sexual offenders register in the last 12 months is not recorded centrally. However, figures showing how expeditiously the Courts notify the police of all case outcomes, against a target time of three days are in the following table.
	Magistrates courts
	
		The production and despatch of the court register within three working days of the court hearing in England and Wales
		
			 Area Number of registers completed within the survey period Number of registers produced within 3 working days Percentage of registers produced within 3 working days 
		
		
			 October-December 2004 79,143 70,932 89.6 
			 January-March 2005 81,409 72,233 88.7 
			 April-June 2005 81,470 72,217 88.6 
			 July-September 2005 81,468 72,489 89.0 
			 12 month total 323,490 287,871 89.0 
		
	
	Crown court
	
		The number of Crown court results to the Police National Computer (PNC) within three working days of the court hearing in England and Wales
		
			 Area Number of results completed within the survey period Number of results produced within 3 working days Percentage of Results produced within 3 working days 
		
		
			 October-December 2004 27,782 21,959 79.0 
			 January-March 2005 25,543 21,092 82.6 
			 April-June 2005 19,001 15,749 82.9 
			 July-September 2005 11,923 10,311 86.5 
			 12 month total 84,249 69,111 82.0

Departmental Estate

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs what (a) building and (b) refurbishment projects are planned by her Department in (i) 2005–06 and (ii) 2006–07; and what the expected costs are of each project.

Harriet Harman: My Department has (a) (i) undertaken no new building projects in 2005–06. (ii) My Department has no building projects planned for 2006–07. Building projects are defined as 'new builds' as per the Treasury guidance referred to as follows.
	My Department has (b) (i) undertaken no refurbishment projects in 2005–06 and (ii) has no refurbishment projects planned for 2006–07. Refurbishment projects are defined as 'upgrading' as per the Treasury guidance referred to as follows.
	The answer provided relates solely to building and refurbishment projects on the HQ estate of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. It does not cover HM Court Service, Associated Offices or NDPB's as this information is neither collated nor managed by DCA and to obtain it would incur a disproportionate cost.

Trials (Location)

David Amess: To ask the Minister of State, Department for Constitutional Affairs how many trials in (a) magistrates courts and (b) the Crown court were moved to a different location at the request of the (i) prosecution and (ii) defence in each year since 1990.

Harriet Harman: Information on the reason for cases being transferred to a different location is not held centrally for either magistrates courts or the Crown court and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost to the Department.

WALES

Business Rates

Martyn Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales how much was raised in business rates in (a) Rhyl, (b) Prestatyn, (c) St. Asaph, (d) Bodelwyddan, (e) Rhuddlan, (f) Dyserth and (g) Denbigh in each of the last 10 years.

Nick Ainger: Figures for individual towns and communities are not held centrally, and I understand from Denbighshire county council that they could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	Denbighshire county council's contribution to the non-domestic rates pool in each year since the re-organisation of local government is provided in the following table.
	
		Contribution to the non-domestic rates pool by Denbighshire county council
		
			  £000 
		
		
			 1996–97 12,936 
			 1997–98 12,729 
			 1998–99 12,475 
			 1999–2000 13,721 
			 2000–01 14,206 
			 2001–02 16,285 
			 2002–03 14,164 
			 2003–04 15,059 
			 2004–05 14,367

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Members Travel Expenses

Tom Brake: To ask the Leader of the House how much was claimed by hon. Members for travel by (a) air, (b) rail and (c) motorcycle in the last two financial years for which figures are available; and what the 10 highest claims were in each year.

Geoff Hoon: The following figures report the cost of air and rail travel on parliamentary business within the UK plus certain European travel for the financial years 2003–04 and 2004–05. Details of claims relating to travel by motorbike are recorded together with claims for all forms of motor mileage and are not separately reportable.
	
		
			   £ 
			  10 highest claims 
			  Rail Air 
		
		
			 2003–04 18,203 25,399 
			  15,328 19,648 
			  15,304 19,504 
			  13,138 19,223 
			  12,633 17,608 
			  12,429 16,381 
			  12,410 15,851 
			  11,775 15,696 
			  11,292 15,636 
			  10,906 15,591 
			 Total claimed 1,698,207 1,295,780 
			
			 2004–05 19,044 30,855 
			  15,216 24,151 
			  14,067 18,527 
			  12,466 17,943 
			  12,028 17,532 
			  12,021 17,074 
			  11,954 16,780 
			  11,540 16,383 
			  11,336 16,332 
			  11,305 16,289 
			 Total claimed 1,818,704 1,234,017

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Local Government Finance

Robert Wilson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received regarding the local government finance settlement.

Phil Woolas: During the consultation period on the local government finance settlement, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 336 written representations from local authorities, hon. Members and others. I and ministerial colleagues also met 60 delegations.

Buncefield Oil Depot

Michael Penning: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the explosion, fire and subsequent investigations at the Buncefield fuel depot in Hemel Hempstead.

David Gauke: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the costs of tackling the Buncefield depot fire.

John Prescott: Following the incident at the Buncefield fuel depot the Health and Safety Executive and the Environment Agency were asked to conduct an investigation into the causes of the explosion. This inquiry is being chaired by Lord Newton of Braintree. In addition, the Hertfordshire fire and rescue service are carrying out their own internal investigation. Central Government and the Government Office for the East of England are also reviewing the lessons to be learned. These reviews will help inform future planning and emergency preparation.
	The response to the Buncefield fire was led by Hertfordshire fire and rescue service, with support from 16 other fire and rescue services from across the country together with the high volume pumping capability funded by the Government's new dimension programme. It will take some time to determine the full costs involved. This exercise is being led by Hertfordshire county council who are working closely with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on the formulation of a claim for financial assistance under the Bell win scheme.

Housing

Alan Beith: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of future population growth on housing needs in the North East of England.

Yvette Cooper: The North East assembly has submitted to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister a draft revision of the North East regional spatial strategy. This includes work on the implications of future population growth and housing needs. It will be considered at an examination in public. The North East regional housing strategy also includes consideration of population changes.

Housing

David Taylor: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the supply of affordable housing in the East Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Yvette Cooper: The East Midlands regional housing board is supporting a programme of sub-regional housing market assessments, which will help identify affordable housing needs and the supply required to meet them contributing to the review of the regional spatial strategy. The first of these reports will be concluded during the summer of 2006.

Housing

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the number of children living in overcrowded housing conditions in (a) London and (b) England.

Yvette Cooper: There are two measures of overcrowding—the statutory definition and the bedroom standard.
	Based on the bedroom standard, the number of children living in overcrowded households over the three-year period 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 was (a) 275,000 in London and (b) 880,000 in England. The total number of overcrowded households in England on this basis is estimated to be around 500,000.
	Information on compliance with the statutory standard is not collected centrally. Using data from the Survey of English Housing" for the period 1997–98 to 1999–2000 and from the 1996 English House Condition Survey" it was estimated that there were 25,000 households in England that were so overcrowded that the statutory standard was breached. However, reliable estimates for London on this basis are not available—neither are figures for the number of children that live in statutory overcrowded households.

East of England Regional Plan

Mark Prisk: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of the East of England regional plan.

Yvette Cooper: The East of England plan is currently under going its examination-in-public (EiP). The EiP is running to timetable and should be concluded at the beginning of March. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister expects to receive the panel's report during the summer and publish the final plan early in 2007.

Northern Way

Vera Baird: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what assessment he has made of the impact of ports development in the South East and East of England on the Northern Way development plan's objective for promoting port development in Tees Valley.

Phil Woolas: The Northern Way is developing an evidence base to promote economic growth in the North including the potential of its ports. It is for them to decide the specifics of their strategy. It is the Government's policy to promote improved economic performance in all our regions.

Chicken Farming

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will issue planning guidance on applications for chicken farming establishments which takes account of avian influenza and the presence of the virus H5N1 in Europe.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 20 January 2006
	There are no plans to issue such planning guidance. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is putting contingency plans in place to reduce the risk of avian influenza to the UK. In consultation with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Defra has produced guidance for bird-keepers on the best way to do this. Further to this, the ODPM wrote to local planning authorities on 16 December 2005 drawing their attention to this guidance and reminding them of the need for reasonableness and proportionality should they need to consider planning applications for works required to isolate domestic poultry from wild birds.

Chicken Farming

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received about planning permission for large scale chicken farming establishments that are in proximity to (a) residential areas and (b) educational establishments.

Yvette Cooper: holding answer 20 January 2006
	The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is not aware of general representations on planning policy for chicken farming establishments. It would not be appropriate to comment on individual planning applications given they may come to the Secretary of State, my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister for decision on appeal.

Christmas Cards

Greg Hands: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister if he will estimate the cost to his Department of sending Christmas cards in 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The cost of purchasing official Office of the Deputy Prime Minister Christmas cards in 2005 was £1,834.10 + VAT. It is policy to send mail by second class post wherever possible. All expenditure incurred in the purchase of official Christmas Cards is made in accordance with the departmental guidance on financial procedures and propriety, based on principles set out in Government Accounting.

Freedom of Information

Keith Vaz: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities of responding to freedom of information requests made in 2005.

Jim Fitzpatrick: The Government undertook a survey of a sample of local authorities covering the period 16 May to 12 August to obtain evidence on the impact on local government of the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act (FoI) on 1 January 2005. This survey suggested that the cost of FoI to local government was approximately £4.9 million per year in the short-to medium term. The Local Government Finance Settlement 2006–07 and 2007–08 includes an additional £4.9 million in each year above existing spending plans to reimburse authorities for these costs under the New Burdens principle.

Housing Benefit

Meg Hillier: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many applications for housing benefit extended payments were made in 2004–05; and how many of those applications were successful.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
	The information is not available.

Local Government Finance

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead on the rate support grant since its announcement.

Phil Woolas: Consultation on the 2006–07 Local Government Finance settlement ran from 5 December to 11 January. During that period the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister received 336 written representations. The Royal borough of Windsor and Maidenhead made no previous written representation; I met a delegation form the council to discuss the settlement on Tuesday 10 January.
	All representations received have been considered in reaching the final 2006–07 Local Government Finance settlement.

Official Travel

David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how much his air travel in an official capacity cost in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.
	During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on domestic flights by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was £1,041. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's domestic air travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Official Travel

David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of his official travel in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the 'Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	For information on the cost of ministerial vehicles provided to departments in 2004–05 I refer the hon. Member to the letter from Roy Burke, chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency (GCDA) in November 2005. For information for the financial years 2000–01 to 2003–04 I refer the hon. Member to the letters from the chief executive of the GCDA to the hon. Member for Buckingham (John Bercow) dated 10 January 2005 and to the then hon. Member for Arundel and South Downs dated 13 September 2003. Copies of these letters are available in the Library of the House.
	During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on rail travel by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was 4,624. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's rail travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was created on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.
	In respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.
	During the financial year 2004–05, expenditure on domestic flights by my right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister was £1,041. Information in respect of my right hon. Friend's domestic air travel taken since the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister was formed on 29 May 2002 until 2003–04 can be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Official Travel

David Simpson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the total cost was of his overnight accommodation while travelling on official duties in each year since he became Deputy Prime Minister.

Jim Fitzpatrick: All ministerial travel is undertaken in accordance with the rules set out in the Ministerial Code and Travel' by Ministers, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House.
	The information requested is not held centrally, and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. However, in respect of overseas travel by Ministers, since 1999 the Government have published an annual list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during each financial year. The list includes the total cost of travel and accommodation. The Government have also published on an annual basis the cost of all Ministers' visits overseas. Copies of the lists are available in the Libraries of the House. These report information for the financial years 1995–96 to 2004–05. Information for 2005–06 will be published as soon as it is ready after the end of the current financial year.

EDUCATION AND SKILLS

Adult Education

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what opportunities are made available by her Department in Tamworth constituency (a) to retrain, (b) to reskill and (c) to educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	The Government's Skills Strategy, 21st Century Skills: Realising Our Potential" (July 2003) and Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" (March 2005), set out our plans for increasing opportunities for adults to develop their skills for paid employment.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 27 January 2006
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, where you ask what opportunities are made available by her department in Tamworth constituency to (a) retrain (b) reskill and (c) educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment.
	Tamworth and Lichfield College is the principal further education (FE) college serving learners in the Tamworth district. Residents also have the opportunity to study in a number of other FE colleges within accessible travelling distance.
	In 2004–05, some 9,500 adults enrolled on programmes of study at Tamworth and Lichfield College across a wide range of subject areas. Particularly large numbers (5,000 enrolments) were to programmes in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). These qualifications are adaptable to many employment sectors, and our regional and local market intelligence shows that, increasingly, employment opportunities will be in higher skilled and more technical jobs where ICT competencies will be an important part of the overall skills profile sought by employers,
	In terms of the total employment demand, the health sector is forecast to be Staffordshire's second biggest sector over the next 10 years. Over 1,800 adults enrolled to programmes in Health, Public Services and Care at Tamworth and Lichfield College in 2004–05. College provision, therefore, is supporting residents to take advantage of new and emerging employment opportunities.
	In addition to provision to support vocational training and upskilling, Staffordshire local education authority receives funding from LSC for the provision of non-accredited adult and community learning activities across the eight district councils in Staffordshire. The aim of the provision is to engage learners in learning programmes and activities to develop skills for life and personal development. Tamworth and Lichfield College delivers this provision on its Tamworth campus and an additional 17 community venues in the district. In 2003–04 the college enrolled 2,284 learners on 160 adult community programmes.
	Learndirect offer a range of flexible learning opportunities though e-learning. The study can take place at the learndirect centres, of which there are 5 in the Tamworth area, or anywhere a learner can access a computer with a good internet connection. Courses include literacy and numeracy, and many are free.
	Trust this is helpful.

Disabled People (Skills Levels)

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase the skills levels of disabled people in Hartlepool; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: More people than ever before with self-declared learning difficulties and/or disabilities are now engaged in LSC-funded education and training with 579,000 learners across the post-16 sector in 2003–04 at a total cost of around £1.3 billion. We want to work closely with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to continue to break down the barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing quality training. The Learning and Skills Act 2000 places a statutory duty on the LSC to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different racial groups, men and women, and between disabled and non-disabled. To support that work, the LSC has introduced equality and diversity impact measures as a planning tool to promote greater equality of opportunity in both fair access to and outcomes from publicly-funded training.
	Earlier this year, in our White Paper Skills Getting on in business, getting on at work" we outlined how the LSC is providing capital funding to support colleges and training providers in making the necessary changes to their accommodation, in order to improve access for disabled learners.
	However, responsibility for the planning and funding of skills training in Hartlepool, including skills for people with disabilities, is the responsibility of the LSC. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, has written to my hon. Friend with further information and a copy of his letter has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 30 January 2006
	I am writing to you to follow up the Secretary of State's answer to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding increasing the skills levels of disabled people in Hartlepool.
	I have set out below a summary of current activity with learners in the town:
	The main providers of post-16 learning in Hartlepool are Hartlepool College of Further Education and Hartlepool Sixth Form College. Both have been supported recently with funding in relation to improving access for learners with disabilities. All providers of Apprenticeships, Work Based Learning and Entry to Employment in Hartlepool have had an Access Audit to ensure that their facilities and premises are accessible to people with disabilities.
	In excess of 1,900 people taking part in learning in Hartlepool are supported with Additional Learning Support Funding. This funding provides specific individual support in respect of learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
	18 learners from Hartlepool with a learning difficulty/and or disability have achieved a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification through the Employer Training Pilot. This is 7% of those taking part.
	73 young people from Hartlepool who consider themselves to have a learning difficulty and/or disability are currently on Apprenticeship programmes and improving their skills and employment opportunities at levels 2 and 3. 42 young people from Hartlepool who consider themselves to have a learning difficulty and/or disability are currently on entry to employment programmes and are improving their skills and employment opportunities leading to level 2 qualifications.
	Hartlepool College of Further Education is working with Catcote Special School in Hartlepool to increase provision for learners aged 19+ with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This project is increasing personal, social and skills for working life for 14 adults.
	Hartlepool Sixth Form College is running a Pathways project1 which supports 26 learners with multiple learning difficulties aged 26 to 63. Learners follow the Certificate in Personal, Social and Health Education.
	We have recently approved funding for the Shaw Trust to deliver support to unemployed 19–24 year olds with learning difficulties and/or disabilities that I have previously had specialist support in a local provider, or have returned from a residential college. The project will support them in community and work based settings. Participants will benefit from improved social skills to encourage independent living and progression, making aspirations and employment goals attainable. 50 learners will be supported across the Tees Valley.
	In addition to the examples given above, people with disabilities have full access to the extensive range of skills training available in the colleges and learning organisations within Hartlepool.
	Budgets for investment in services for learners with learning needs and disabilities for 2006–07 will shortly be allocated to regions and local LSC's enabling them to plan support for next year. This will be in the context of our plans for significant budget increases for these learners over the next few years. We have increased the overall budget for learners with learning needs and disabilities from £138 million to £157 million for 2006–2007 and this will increase again to £181 million in 2007–2008, rises of 14% and 15% year on year from 2005. These rises are significantly greater than the overall increase in our budget over the same period, which increases by 3% and 5%.
	We are making this additional investment in response to the national review of support for learners with disabilities carried out for us by Peter Little. While the review is still out for consultation and we will need to agree nationally how the LSC's expenditure on learning is matched by what other agencies pay for by way of social and domestic support, we acknowledge that our own contribution must rise. This is because the overall number of learners with disabilities is rising as the effect of medical advances continues.
	At a time when numbers of young people are falling and 80% of the workforce of 2010 is already in the labour market we regard it as essential that the aspirations and abilities of all learners are supported and developed.
	I hope this information helps to support the answer to your parliamentary question.

Extended Schools

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the requirement for extended schools referred to on page 10 of the White Paper, Higher Standards, Better Schools for All".

Beverley Hughes: By 2010 we expect all schools to offer access to a core offer of extended services, with half of all primaries and a third of all secondaries doing so by 2008. The core offer includes 8 am-6 pm wraparound child care; a varied menu of study support activities such as sport and arts clubs; swift and easy referral to specialist health and social care services such as speech therapy; parenting support; and wider community use of school facilities. How this develops in each community will vary depending on the needs of that community. Some will have greater need for more child care, others will be able to rely on working with existing providers. A survey of 4,000 schools has shown that many are already delivering parts of this offer, with the vast majority already providing some activities or care before or after school. There has been enthusiasm from local authorities and schools to engage with the extended schools support programme, with over 5,000 schools joining this year.

Foundation Stage Profile

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many statements are included in the Foundation Stage Profile.

Beverley Hughes: The QCA Foundation Stage Profile scales booklet covers 13 areas of development related to the early learning goals. For each area, the booklet offers a series of statements, numbered 1 to 9, describing aspects of development within that area (117 statements in all). For each individual child, teachers decide which of the nine statements in each area best describe the child's stage of development. Schools report to the local authority, as the child's score", 13 numbers ranging from 1 to 9.

Literacy and Numeracy (Hampshire)

Mark Hoban: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what estimate she has made of how many adults lacked basic (a) literacy and (b) numeracy skills in (i) 1997 and (ii) 2005 in (A) Hampshire, (B) Portsmouth, (C) Southampton, (D) the Isle of Wight and (E) each (1) borough and (2) district council in Hampshire.

Phil Hope: holding answer 31 January 2006
	The Department does not collect annual data on adult literacy and numeracy skills and it is therefore not possible to provide estimates for 1997 and 2005. However, in 2002/03, the Department for Education and Skills conducted the 'Skills for Life Survey'. This is a national needs and impact survey of literacy and numeracy, which provides estimates of the level of basic skills within England among adults aged 16–65 years old.
	The assessment levels correspond to the literacy and numeracy National Standards: these were introduced in 2002 to provide a framework for all adult screening tests, diagnostic tools, programmes of study and qualifications. Learners are assessed for levels of literacy and numeracy from Entry Level 1 to Level 2. Level 2 is broadly equivalent to a higher grade GCSE (A*-C).
	The survey provides estimates for Learning and Skills Council areas and districts. Within the Learning and Skills Council area of Hampshire and The Isle of Wight, the Skills for Life Survey estimates that around 7 per cent. of adults had literacy levels below Level 1 (equivalent to a GCSE D-G) and around 43 per cent. had numeracy levels below Level 1 (Table 1 and 2).
	
		Table 1: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Literacy Levels for Learning and Skills Council: Hampshire and Isle of Wight
		
			 Literacy Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Entry Level 1 Skills and below 6,025 1 
			 Entry Level 2 Skills 5,430 0 
			 Entry Level 3 Skills 61,295 6 
			 Total Entry Level Skills 72,750 7 
			 Level 1 Skills 464,400 42 
			 Level 2 Skills and above 572,100 52 
		
	
	
		Table 2: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Numeracy Levels for Learning and Skills Council: Hampshire and Isle of Wight
		
			 Numeracy Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Entry Level 1 Skills and below 23,400 2 
			 Entry Level 2 Skills 116,730 11 
			 Entry Level 3 Skills 335,470 30 
			 Total Entry Level Skills 475,600 43 
			 Level 1 Skills 339,000 31 
			 Level 2 Skills and above 294,900 27 
		
	
	At a district level, the Skills for Life Survey estimates around 10 per cent. of adults have literacy levels below Level 1 (equivalent to a GCSE D-G) within Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight and around 50 per cent. have numeracy levels below level 1 (Table 3 and 4).
	
		Table 3: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Literacy Levels for Districts
		
			  Total Entry Level Level 1 Skills Level 2 Skills 
			 Literacy Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Portsmouth 10,340 9 55,890 47 51,540 44 
			 Southampton 14,140 10 63,140 45 62,850 45 
			 Isle of Wight 7,820 10 35,970 47 32,950 43 
		
	
	
		Table 4: Estimates, based on the Skills for Life Survey, of Adult Numeracy Levels for Districts
		
			  Total Entry Level Level 1 Skills Level 2 Skills 
			 Numeracy Number Percentage Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 Portsmouth 62,540 53 35,900 30 19,330 16 
			 Southampton 77,700 55 41,340 30 21,080 15 
			 Isle of Wight 39,010 51 23,910 31 13,810 18 
		
	
	A copy of the full report of this survey has been placed in the House of Commons Library and all geographical estimates are on the Skills for Life website [http://www.dfes.gov.uk/readwriteplus_skillsforlifesurvey/].

School Milk (Shropshire)

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what subsidies her Department has provided for primary schools in Shrewsbury constituency for daily school milk; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	The EU funds a scheme which subsidises the provision of milk to primary and nursery schools. In England the Government supplements the EU subsidy for primary schools by payment of an annual maximum of £1.5 million in national aid. Participation in the subsidy scheme, which is administered by the Rural Payments Agency, is entirely a matter for schools or local education authorities. Shropshire county council is on the Agency's register of subsidy claimants.

Sure Start

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills which (a) private, (b) voluntary and (c) public sector organisations delivered services in Sure Start programmes in each year for which figures are available.

Beverley Hughes: Services in Sure Start programmes have been delivered by organisations from a range of sectors, for example, voluntary and community sector organisations, such as community development trusts, statutory partners, including local authorities and health authorities, and some private companies. Information on the extent to which individual organisations are involved is not collected centrally.

Training Schemes

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to aid the provision of training schemes for Surrey Heath residents over 50 years old.

Phil Hope: We are committed to safeguarding a wide range of adult learning opportunities in every area, including provision for learners over 50, and we will ensure that adult learning provision in Surrey Heath is provided through the funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to further education colleges, local authorities and other providers. As this is an operational matter, Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive has written to the hon. Member with further information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 23 January 2006
	I refer to the written reply by Phil Hope to your Parliamentary Question. The Minister has asked that I write to you with further information.
	Adult and Community Learning (now called Personal and Community Development Learning) is an important source of provision for older people. We are safeguarding funding for this provision for future years.
	For other forms of provision, the LSC has agreed clear funding priorities with the Government as public resources are necessarily finite. Our highest priorities are to support increased participation and achievement of 16–18 year olds and to support adults without skills for life and full level 2 qualifications which are important for basic levels of employability. Many older people come within these latter priority categories and around a quarter of enrolments in LSC funded provision in Surrey are by people over the age of 50.
	Surrey County Council, our Adult and Community Learning provider in the county, has developed provision for older people in two communities with high levels of multiple deprivation, one of which is in Surrey Heath. Building on earlier work by the Pre-Retirement Association, the purpose of these was to develop a transferable and innovative curriculum of recreational learning to encourage older people to regard learning and skills acquisition as a positive and natural accompaniment to growing older. Amongst other things, this led to the formation of an 'older and bolder club1 for health activities and recreation. The University of the Third Age has a presence in Surrey Heath to encourage lifelong learning for older people not in employment and relevant courses are also delivered by the WEA (with funding from the LSC.)
	To help shape future provision, the Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership has run focus groups on our behalf, involving older learners, to identify provision of particular interest. Analysis of needs against provision on a geographic basis means that we can now identify where there is relatively high and low participation in learning for over 50s to provide a basis for review of future provision.
	Our future provision in Surrey will also be influenced by our South East Region's annual statement of planning priorities in which we have a commitment to pilot curriculum opportunities for older workers to change their occupations or extend their careers". To this end, we are developing a project, with European funding support, to identify different ways of delivering learning to older people. This will include targeted information, advice and guidance and the development of courses specifically to meet the needs of older people seeking to extend their careers.
	Looking further forward, demographic changes—with fewer young people entering the labour market and an expectation of longer working life—mean that, nationally, we will need to provide a broader programme of support for older people to keep their skills up to date. We will be working with the Department for Education and Skills to define and plan the nature of this broader support.
	I hope this further information is helpful.

Work Experience

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many Key Stage 3 pupils undertook work experience in each year between 1995 and 2005, broken down by year group; and in which sectors.

Jacqui Smith: We have no figures for the period 1995 to April 2001. From April 2001, the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) took on the delivery responsibility for links between schools and businesses. Mark Haysom, the LSC's chief executive has written to my hon. Friend and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 22 December 2005
	Further to your question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills requesting the number of Key Stage 3 pupils who under-took work-experience placements between 1995 and 2005.
	The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) collects data for work-experience placements for Key Stage pupils in Years 10 and 11. It does not collect information on Key Stage 3 students as part of the LSC Education Business Link funded activity.
	Yours sincerely

Work-based Learning

Edward Davey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what funding has been allocated to work-based learning in (a) 2005–06, (b) 2006–07 and (c) 2007–08 for (i) 16 to 19-year-olds and (ii) 19 years plus at (A) Level 1, (B) Level 2 and (C) Level 3.

Bill Rammell: The Learning and Skills Council (LSC) is funded by the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) through an annual Grant Letter that sets out the LSC's key priorities. The operational delivery of individual programmes, taking account of these priorities and the funding made available by the Department, is a matter for the LSC. The following table details the allocations for work based learning programmes for the relevant financial years. In addition funding allocations are given for the adult skills programme Train to Gain.
	
		
			£000 
			  2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 
		
		
			 Work Based Learning (16–18) 606,357 669,189 675,181 
			 Entry to Employment (16–18) 220,208 208,369 204,044 
			 Work Based Learning (19+) 268,973 202,767 229,000 
			 WBL total 1,095,538 1,080,325 1,108,225 
			 Train to Gain programme 161,027 230,000 399,000 
			 Overall total 1,256,565 1,310,325 1,507,225 
		
	
	Data for allocations to programmes by qualification level are the responsibility of the LSC and the council's Chief Executive Mark Haysom has written to the hon. Member with the information requested and a copy of his reply has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 21 December 2005
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary Question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills regarding funds allocated to Work-based Learning (WBL) in the three years from 2005–06 to 2007–08, for qualification levels 1, 2 and 3.
	I need to begin by pointing out that the Learning and Skills Council does not allocate funding on the basis of qualification levels. We allocate funds to providers based on locally agreed provider development plans. These reflect a sound assessment of local employer, sector and individual needs, as well as Government policy, priorities and targets.
	We afford our local teams considerable flexibility to move funds around to meet specific needs, hence we cannot say with certainty at this time, how much will be spent at each learning 'Level' for the years in question.
	We do however gather information that enables us to see how much has been spent on the various elements of the WBL programme. For the most recently completed academic year, 2004/05, we know that the amounts were:
	£344 million for Advanced Apprenticeships, which are geared towards the achievement of a Level 3 qualification;
	£443 million for Apprenticeships, geared towards Level 2;
	£228 million for Entry to Employment, Level 1; and
	in addition, some £45 million of our WBL programme budget was spent on training towards NVQs only (Levels 1–4)

DEFENCE

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the (a) names and (b) grades were of his Department's officials who visited Ascension Island and participated in the preliminary summit of 30 November 2005.

Adam Ingram: Two officials from the Ministry of Defence visited and participated in a preliminary summit in Ascension Island on 30 November 2005, one from our policy and defence relations (South) organisation and another from our permanent joint headquarters. Under the Data Protection Act, their names are withheld.

Ascension Island

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the conditions governing the use of Ascension Island by the United States air force.

Adam Ingram: The use by the United States air force of Ascension Island is based on the 1956 Bahamas Agreement between the United Kingdom and the United States, and has been developed further through a number of local agreements covering the operational activities undertaken there.

Boards of Inquiry

Alex Salmond: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what restrictions are in place on legal personnel supporting families at board of inquiry meetings; and for what reasons such restrictions are in place.

Don Touhig: A board of inquiry is an internal review conducted to investigate a matter and to report. It is not a court and it does not meet in public. The presence of families may inhibit the openness of witnesses, in addition to being impractical as boards of inquiry can last for months and necessitate travel both inside and outside the United Kingdom. In the case of an inquiry into a fatality or serious accident, we seek to ensure that the next of kin are fully briefed on the inquiry's progress and outcome.

Casualties (Iraq/Afghanistan)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is considering making available a breakdown of casualty figures for the deployments in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.

John Reid: Yes. The MOD intends to publish casualty figures for Iraq on the MOD website in the next few weeks, identifying the number of personnel categorised as Seriously Injured" and Very Seriously Injured". The figures will be updated regularly. I will write to inform the right hon. Member prior to the first publication.
	The MOD will also release in the same way these categories of information for any UK casualties that occur from 1 January 2006 onwards as a result of operations in Afghanistan. Information for previous years is not held centrally and will take some time to collate. I will write to the right hon. Member when the figures are available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Defence Staff (Deployment)

Jim Cousins: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the distribution in each region and country of (a) regular service personnel, (b) direct civilian employees of the Department, (c) civilian personnel in the UK defence agencies and trading funds as at 1 October 2005.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 25 January 2006
	Information on the posted location of Service personnel is published in TSP 10 (UK regular forces distribution across UK), which shows the number of Service personnel by Government office region and local authority. A copy of this publication is available in the Library of the House, showing data as at 1 October 2005.
	The following table shows the number of civilian personnel in the UK, Defence agencies and trading funds as at 1 October 2005 by Government office region.
	
		Civilian personnel(1) in UK Defence agencies and MOD—owned trading funds by Government office region and country at 1 October 2005
		
			 Number: FTE 
			  North-east North-west Yorkshire and Humber East Midlands West Midlands 
		
		
			 MOD total excluding Agencies and Trading Funds 430 580 1,520 1,770 1,710 
			 Total Agencies and Trading Funds Agencies 90 2,240 2,350 760 4,440 
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency — — — — — 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency (2)— 20 930 20 210 
			 British Forces Post Office — — (2)— — 10 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency — — — — — 
			 Defence Bills Agency — 560 — — — 
			 Defence Communications Service Agency (2)— 20 50 (2)— 60 
			 Defence Estates 10 50 130 50 510 
			 Defence Medical and Education Training Agency — — 10 — 40 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 20 160 10 10 50 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency (2)— 240 40 10 1,510 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency — 10 — — 100 
			 Defence Vetting Agency — — 310 — — 
			 Disposal Services Agency — — — — — 
			 Duke of York's Royal Military School — — — — — 
			 Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency 40 130 540 100 300 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency 10 10 (2)— 10 10 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency — 350 (2)— — — 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 10 30 190 460 620 
			 Service Children's Education — — — — (2)— 
			 Veterans' Agency (2)— 620 10 10 10 
			   
			 Trading Funds  
			 Army Base Repair Organisation(3) — — 90 — 770 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency — — — — — 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratories — — — 10 230 
			 Meteorological Office — 30 30 60 30 
			 UK Hydrographic Office — — — — — 
			 Locally engaged civilian staff * * * * * 
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) staff * * * * * 
			 Civilian level 0 total * * * * * 
		
	
	
		
			  Eastern London South-east South-west Wales 
		
		
			 MOD total excluding Agencies and Trading Funds 5,370 4,610 7,320 10,940 770 
			 Total Agencies and Trading Funds Agencies 1,960 2,510 9,580 13,000 2,560 
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency — — 50 120 — 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency 110 40 1,390 990 140 
			 British Forces Post Office 10 220 30 20 — 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency — 70 10 120 — 
			 Defence Bills Agency — — — (2)— — 
			 Defence Communications Service Agency 520 320 500 1,840 20 
			 Defence Estates 350 190 460 390 40 
			 Defence Medical and Education Training Agency 10 90 440 10 — 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 70 90 100 3,180 10 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency 40 1 130 400 210 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency — 60 140 (2)— — 
			 Defence Vetting Agency — (2)— — (2)— — 
			 Disposal Services Agency 20 60 (2)— 10 — 
			 Duke of York's Royal Military School — — 120 — — 
			 Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency 670 670 2010 1,510 200 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency (2)— 10 530 80 80 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency (2)— (2)— (2)— 440 — 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 30 20 460 150 100 
			 Service Children's Education (2)— — — — — 
			 Veterans' Agency (2)— 10 20 70 10 
			   
			 Trading Funds  
			 Army Base Repair Organisation(3) 90 — (2)— 540 10 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency —  830 — 1,710 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratories — 640 1,150 1,030 — 
			 Meteorological Office 40 10 200 1,140 30 
			 UK Hydrographic Office — — 10 940 — 
			 Locally engaged civilian staff * * * * * 
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) staff * * * * * 
			 Civilian level 0 total * * * * * 
		
	
	
		
			  Scotland Northern Ireland Unknown Overseas Total 
		
		
			 MOD total excluding Agencies and Trading Funds 3,860 3,020 860 1,040 43,800 
			 Total Agencies and Trading Funds Agencies 3,120 360 280 1,440 44,700 
			 Armed Forces Personnel Administration Agency 30 — — (2)— 210 
			 Army Training and Recruitment Agency 60 10 (2)— (2)— 3,940 
			 British Forces Post Office 10 — (2)— (2)— 300 
			 Defence Analytical Services Agency — — — — 200 
			 Defence Bills Agency   10 — 570 
			 Defence Communications Service Agency 110 (2)— 20 130 3,590 
			 Defence Estates 210 280 10 130 2,830 
			 Defence Medical and Education Training Agency — — (2)— — 600 
			 Defence Procurement Agency 110 10 20 120 3,960 
			 Defence Storage and Distribution Agency 660 — 10 10 4,270 
			 Defence Transport and Movements Agency 20 — (2)— (2)— 340 
			 Defence Vetting Agency — — — — 320 
			 Disposal Services Agency (2)— — — — 100 
			 Duke of York's Royal Military School — — — — 120 
			 Ministry of Defence Police and Guarding Agency 1,330 (2)— (2)— (2)— 7,510 
			 Naval Recruiting and Training Agency 10 20 (2)— (2)— 770 
			 Pay and Personnel Agency — — (2)— (2)— 800 
			 RAF Training Group Defence Agency 50 (2)— (2)— (2)— 2,130 
			 Service Children's Education — — (2)— 990 1,000 
			 Veterans' Agency 10 10 — (2)— 790 
			   
			 Trading Funds  
			 Army Base Repair Organisation(3) 90 — — — 1,600 
			 Defence Aviation Repair Agency 280 — 20 — 2,840 
			 Defence Science and Technology Laboratories — — 150 (2)— 3,220 
			 Meteorological Office 120 20 10 30 1,740 
			 UK Hydrographic Office (2)— — — — 950 
			 Locally engaged civilian staff * * * * 15,410 
			 Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) staff * * * * 2,370 
			 Civilian level 0 total * * * * 106,260 
		
	
	(1) This table uses the revised definition of civilian personnel (see www.dasa.mod.uk).
	(2) less than 5.
	(3) From the 1 January 2006 reporting, DASA has been able to identify a methodology to correctly identify all of the ABRO staff. Estimated October 2005 figures based on the new methodology are broken down as follows: ABRO Estimate October 2005 total 2390 FTE, broken down by Government Office Region: Yorks and Humber 130, West Midlands 1010, South West 810, Eastern 140, South East 100, Scotland 90, Wales 20. The differences between ABRO published and estimated figures are included within the MoD Total Excluding Agencies and Trading Funds figures above Overall figures by Government Office Region would be unaffected by any impact of ABRO staff estimates.
	Notes:
	1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 10, as a result totals may not always equal the sum of the parts.
	2. Figures include values for part time staff proportionate to those of full time staff.
	Source:
	DASA (Civilian)

Iraq

Michael Ancram: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  how many 30mg pyridostigmine bromide tablets (a) personnel from (i) the 7th Armoured Brigade, (ii) 3 Commando Brigade, (iii) 16 Air Assault Brigade, (iv) 102 Logistics Brigade and (v) HQ Armoured Division, (b) Royal Navy personnel in the Gulf and (c) Royal Air Force personnel in the Gulf took daily during the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Op Telic;
	(2)  what percentage of (a) the 7th Armoured Brigade, (b) 3 Commando Brigade, (c) 16 Air Assault Brigade, (d) 102 Logistics Brigade, (e) HQ Armoured Division, (f) Royal Naval personnel in the Gulf and (g) Royal Air Force personnel in the Gulf took nerve agent pre-treatment tablets during the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Op Telic; and for how many days in each case;
	(3)  how many nerve agent pre-treatment tablets were re-supplied to (a) the 7th Armoured Brigade, (b) 3 Commando Brigade, (c) 16 Air Assault Brigade, (d) 102 Logistics Brigade, (e) HQ Armoured Division, (f) Royal Naval personnel in the Gulf and (g) Royal Air Force personnel in the Gulf during the 2003 invasion of Iraq on Operation Telic.

Don Touhig: Nerve agent pre-treatment sets (NAPS) tablets were issued to armed forces personnel serving with Operation Telic in single strips of 21 tablets. The recommended dosage rate is one Pyridostigmine Bromide (30mg) tablet every eight hours—ie three per day. Thus, a single strip contains a week's supply.
	A total of 7,266,504 tablets were supplied to Operation Telic, in the form of 346,024 strips of 21. These were issued to approximately 32,000 personnel, over a three month period as follows:
	
		
			 Month Strips supplied Total tablets 
		
		
			 January 2003 85,573 1,797,033 
			 February 2003 155,541 3,266,361 
			 March 2003 104,910 2,203,110 
			 Total 346,024 7,266,504 
		
	
	Information is not held centrally on how many of these tablets were then issued locally to individual units in theatre, and could only therefore be provided at disproportionate cost.
	Nor is it known how many tablets were actually taken daily by individual personnel. This is because the tablets were self-administered by personnel on command, rather than being administered by medical officers. For this same reason, information is not held as to what percentage of personnel took the tablets.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Don Touhig: The decision to hold events to mark religious festivals is one for commanding officers and civilian line managers and records of such events are not held centrally.
	Religious belief is regarded as a private matter in the Ministry of Defence and armed forces. It is the Department's policy to allow personnel to meet their religious observances provided this does not interfere with operational effectiveness, health and safety requirements or business needs. Armed forces and Ministry of Defence civil service personnel may request leave to celebrate religious festivals where these fall outside national public holidays. Such requests are considered objectively and met wherever practical. Areas for worship or contemplation are made available in Ministry of Defence and armed forces establishments wherever practicable.
	A Guide on Religion and Belief in the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces" was published last year to raise awareness of faith and cultural issues.

Medical Training to the Midlands

Lynne Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for what reasons the use of land owned by his Department reduces the cost to his Department of the Medical Training to the Midlands; whether the use of land owned by (a) another Government Department and (b) the private sector would alter the cost of the project; and if he will make a statement.

Don Touhig: Acquisition of non-Ministry of Defence (MOD) land always carries additional costs (legal, professional fees etc) as well as requiring an outlay of capital. There might also be disposal costs to be taken into account if the acquisition led to existing MOD land becoming surplus. It is for this reason that before considering such an acquisition to meet a new requirement, we always first look at the suitability of land and property already owned by the Department. This is consistent with the wider Government policy on asset management. We also need to ensure that our estate is no larger than is required for defence purposes and that it is efficiently used. If a privately-owned site were to offer specific advantages (for instance in terms of location, features or potential value for money) then an exception might be made, but this would be considered on a case by case basis.

Parachute Regiment

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the establishment is of each battalion of the Parachute Regiment; and how many vacancies there are in each battalion.

Don Touhig: The following table shows the strength of the individual battalions of The Parachute Regiment compared to the Infantry element of the establishment as at 1 December 2005.
	
		
			  Strength Establishment Difference 
		
		
			 1st Battalion of The Parachute Regiment 490 580 -90 
			 2nd Battalion of The Parachute Regiment 510 580 -70 
			 3rd Battalion Of The Parachute Regiment 510 580 -70 
			 Total 1,510 1,730 -220 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures quoted are as at 1 December 2005 and are for UK regular trained Army officers and soldiers only and therefore exclude mobilised reserves, full-time reserve service and other reserves.
	2. Strength totals for the 2nd Battalion include 90 soldiers on detachment with The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards.
	3. The establishment figures include only the infantry posts and exclude attached personnel of other arms and services such as chefs, clerks etc.
	4. The strength figures do not include officers and soldiers in The Parachute Regiment that are serving outside the battalion, or personnel from other capbadges that are attached to the battalion. The officer element excludes personnel with the rank of colonel and above.
	5. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10.
	In addition to those Parachute Regiment personnel serving with the battalions there are 480 (excluding colonels and above) members of the regiment posted elsewhere.

Public and Commercial Services Union

Lady Hermon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what (a) representations he has received and (b) meetings he has had with (i) representatives from the Public and Commercial Services Union and (ii) other interested groups in relation to job cuts and outsourcing of functions in his Department in Northern Ireland.

Adam Ingram: holding answer 31 January 2006
	Representations have been made to Defence Ministers in writing and at meetings. In 2002, the trade unions tabled a claim for enhanced redundancy compensation for any MOD civil servants in Northern Ireland made redundant as a result of the peace process. A delegation of TU representatives from TGWU, GMB, AMICUS, TGWC, PCS and Prospect met with me in London in December 2004 and I met other TU representatives (GMB, Prospect, TGWU, PCS, JCC and AMICUS) in Northern Ireland in November 2005.
	There has also been correspondence from a number of Members of Parliament on the same issue.

QinetiQ

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that intellectual property developed by Qinetiq remains in the UK following that company's flotation.

John Reid: In common with other companies which carry out MOD-funded research, ownership of intellectual property generated as a result of MOD contracts remains with QinetiQ, although MOD has free rights to such information for its own use, or for use by its contractors for defence and security purposes. The MOD also has rights to disclose such information to other governments for international co-operation purposes.
	Should QinetiQ wish to use UK government-funded intellectual property in programmes with overseas governments or contractors, arrangements exist, established in July 2001, which allow MOD to prevent transactions that it judges would cause an unmanageable conflict of interest or otherwise be contrary to the defence or security interests of the UK. These arrangements will remain in place after the initial public offering in QinetiQ. QinetiQ is also subject to the same security and export controls as any other UK company.

QinetiQ

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to ease the restrictions on QinetiQ's involvement in defence manufacturing.

John Reid: When QinetiQ became a company in July 2001, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) put in place a range of measures to ensure that the company did not undertake activities that could cause an unmanageable conflict of interest affecting its ability to carry out work for MOD customers.
	In addition, the MOD had a separate right to require QinetiQ to seek our specific approval if it wished to carry out certain defence manufacturing activities which might also cause a conflict of interest. In reviewing the operation of the compliance regime, the Department has concluded that the existence of this additional approvals process on top of the wider conflict of interest protections has caused some confusion, and that there is scope for simplifying the regime. Consequently, the MOD has agreed with the company that the separate defence manufacturing approvals process will be removed from 1 April 2008, by which date the MOD willbe in a position to open its research programme tofull competition, potentially providing greater opportunities for the rest of industry to bid for work and increasing the options available to MOD customers. This change will not affect the level of protection available to customers who will exercise their rights through the wider provisions contained elsewhere in the compliance regime.

SevenCs

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effect of the acquisition of SevenCs by the UK Hydrographic Office on other commercial enterprises in the hydrographic industry.

Don Touhig: holding answer 31 January 2006
	Prior to the acquisition the UK Hydrographic Office concluded that a change of ownership of SevenCs would, of itself, have little or no effect on other commercial enterprises in the hydrographic industry. The acquisition should, however, work to the benefit of the industry as a whole by invigorating the development of digital navigation products, which will in turn enhance safety of life at sea.

SevenCs

Mark Harper: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the acquisition of SevenCs by the UK Hydrographic Office.

Don Touhig: holding answer 31 January 2006
	On 30 November 2005 the UK Hydrographic Office (UKHO) acquired SevenCs, a leading navigational software development company, based in Hamburg. This acquisition was in line with the UKHO's strategic direction and within its remit as a Ministry of Defence Trading Fund.
	The purpose of the acquisition was to ensure an open route to market for all digital navigational data, including the UKHO's. It was strategically important for the UKHO, and in order to discharge the UK's responsibilities under the International Convention on Safety of Life at Sea, that the UKHO safeguard an open system, which does not tie the end-user to a particular brand of data.

Sudan

Tobias Ellwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many UK military personnel are working (a) under the NATO flag and (b) under the EU in relief efforts in Sudan.

Adam Ingram: The United Kingdom currently has one officer based in Ethiopia as NATO's senior military liaison officer to the African Union (AU), whose work includes supporting the AU mission in Darfur. A second officer will be deployed shortly and will be based in Sudan. The UK also has one officer based in Sudan as part of the EU support for the AU mission.

ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Biodiversity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government plan to assess whether they have met the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010.

Jim Knight: The Standing Committee of the UK Biodiversity Partnership has agreed to use a set of 18 headline indicators to assess whether the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has been met. These are based on the framework being used within the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Some of the indicators are already published; others require further development. The full set of indicators is as follows:
	
		
			 Focal areas Indicators 
		
		
			 Status and trends of the components of biological diversity 1. Trends in populations of wild birds: (a) farmland birds; (b) woodland birds; (c) coastal and sea birds 
			  2. Plant diversity in the wider countryside 
			  3. Status of BAP Priority Species 
			  4. Status of BAP Priority Habitats 
			  5. Trends in genetic diversity of cultivated plants" 
			  6 (a) Extent of SACs, SPAs and SSSI/ASSIs; (b) Proportion of features of SACs and SPAs in favourable condition 
			   
			 Sustainable use 7. Proportion of woodland area under certified management 
			  8. Area of land under agri-environment scheme agreement 
			  9. Proportion of commercially exploited fish stocks around the UK harvested sustainably 
			 Threats to biodiversity 10. Nitrogen deposition 
			  11. Number and costs of invasive alien species 
			  12. Impact of climate change on biodiversity 
			   
			 Ecosystem integrity and ecosystem goods and services 13. Marine trophic index 
			  14. Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems 
			  15. Water quality in aquatic ecosystems 
			   
			 Status of access and benefits sharing 16. Percentage of European patent applications for inventions based on genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge that disclose the source of these resources and knowledge 
			   
			 Status of resource transfers and use 17. Funding to biodiversity: 
			  in economic and development cooperation (response) 
			  in EU research, monitoring and management 
			   
			 Public opinion 18. Public awareness and participation

Biodiversity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs when the results of the 2005 reporting round for the UK Biodiversity Action Plan will be published; and how this information will be used to improve the delivery of biodiversity conservation up to 2010.

Jim Knight: The results will be published in a new report later this year. This will provide UK and county level information on how individual species and habitats are faring, emerging influences by sector, and constraints to delivery. We are committed to making full use of these results. And we will look to make them relevant to a range of different audiences and stakeholders.
	The responsibility for implementing measures to conserve biodiversity is a devolved matter. And the results of the 2005 reporting round will feed into the individual strategies for biodiversity and the environment in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Biodiversity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government (a) have introduced and (b) are planning to introduce to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

Jim Knight: Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) there are costed and targeted national action plans for 436 of our most threatened habitats and species in the UK. These are supported by approximately 150 local biodiversity action plans, often at county level. The most recently completed review of progress was conducted in 2002 and the latest published information on progress was issued in 2003: UK Biodiversity Action Plan—tracking progress". A further report on progress to 2005 will be published this year.
	The England Biodiversity Strategy, Working with the grain of nature" was published in 2002. This brings together England's key contributions towards halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The strategy sets out a programme of activity to integrate biodiversity into policy making and practice. The third annual stock-take of progress under the strategy was published on 29 December 2005. This highlights coverage of more than 1 million hectares of land by Environmental Stewardship agreements, a new Planning Policy Statement on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, a new policy on ancient and native woodland, and a substantial increase in investment in water and wetland management for wildlife.
	Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, we propose to extend a duty to all public authorities in England and Wales to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity in the exercise of their functions. And we are also committed to publishing a Marine Bill to provide a new framework for marine conservation.
	We will publish new priorities, targets and plans for meeting our target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010, following reviews being undertaken under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
	The UK commitment towards international efforts to reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 is contained in the World Summit on Sustainable Development Delivery Plan for international biodiversity (http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/delivery/global-local/international/wssd/delivery-plans.htm). The plans set out the intermediate steps needed to meet the UK's long term aims, and reports on progress to date.
	The UK also continues to fund and administer the Darwin Initiative. This has played a major role in conserving endangered species and habitats throughout the world. Since its launch in 1992, we have committed more than £45 million to more than 400 projects in more than 100 countries.

Border-straddling Farms

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms straddle the border between (a) England and Wales and (b) England and Scotland.

Jim Knight: The following figures relate to single payment scheme applications made in 2005:
	(a) There are 463 applicants who have land both in England and Wales. 176 have applied to RPA and 287 to NAWAD.
	(b) There are 128 applicants who have land both in England and Scotland. 64 have applied to RPA and 64 to SEERAD.

Bovine TB

Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the annual Government expenditure on the development of a vaccine against bovine tuberculosis in (a) cattle and (b) badgers has been since 1998.

Ben Bradshaw: From 1998–99 to 2004–05, and including the forecast for the year 2005–06, Defra has spent £3.5 million on research into a vaccine against bovine tuberculosis for badgers, and £3.8 million on research into finding a vaccine for cattle.
	In parallel with this, Defra has been researching diagnostic tests for badgers and cattle. From 1998–99 to 2004–05, and including the forecast for the year 2005–06, Defra has spent £1.1 million on badger test development, and £2.3 million on cattle test development.
	The Government continues to pursue the development of vaccines for cattle and badgers. On 9 June 2005, we announced details of work on natural transmission studies in cattle and a field study to obtain licensing data for injectable BCG in badgers, to start in 2006.

Bovine TB

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what estimate she has made of the number of parishes where badgers removed during the Krebs trial were found to be free of bovine tuberculosis.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 26 January 2006
	The results of the randomised badger culling trials are still being collected and analysed by the Independent Scientific Group, which is responsible for them. The information requested has not yet been made available by the ISG.

Climate Change

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps her Department plans to take to ensure the travel undertaken by the Young Climate Change Champions is carbon-neutral.

Elliot Morley: Under the Climate Change Champions youth competition we are looking to avoid and minimise carbon-intensive travel for all Defra facilitated journey's as far as possible. As part of this we will, for example, ensure that the nine chosen Champions, guardians and Government officials travel by surface transport, predominantly by train, on the fact finding tour to Switzerland. We will also be looking to offset any unavoidable emissions incurred as a result of the competition.

Climate Change

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has allocated to the 'Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge' programme.

Elliot Morley: Defra has committed £12 million to the 'Tomorrow's Climate, Today's Challenge' climate change communications initiative to March 2008.

Coastal and Marine Resources Atlas

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of maintaining the online Coastal and Marine Resources Atlas in each of the last three years.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 30 January 2006
	Prior to its launch this week, the Coastal and Marine Resource Atlas was a research project. The Coastal and Marine Resource Atlas was produced collaboratively by the following organisations:
	Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)
	Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
	Scottish Executive (SE)
	Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)
	Energy Institute (EI)
	Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
	Environment Agency (EA)
	English Nature (EN)
	Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)
	Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)
	Hampshire County Council (HCC)
	Essex County Council (ECC)
	Kent County Council (KCC)
	The direct cost of development since September 2003 was £211,000. Defra contributed £71,000 towards these cost. The breakdown by year are:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Overall costs Defra contribution 
		
		
			 2003–04 12,600 10,000 
			 2004–05 135,600 35,000 
			 2005–06 62,800 26,000 
		
	
	The costs of maintaining the system will be significantly less.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider extending the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 legislation to riverside areas.

Jim Knight: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 already includes rights of access on foot for open-air recreation for some riverside areas, which have been mapped as open country and registered common land. We have no plans to extend this at present.

Countryside Stewardship Scheme

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  how many live agreements there were under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme within two miles of (a) an urban area and (b) the coast (i) in the agreement year 2004 and (ii) from the scheme's inception to November 2005;
	(2)  how many hectares were in live agreements under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme within two miles of (a) an urban area and (b) the coast (i) in the agreement year 2004 and (ii) from the scheme's inception to November 2005;
	(3)  how much funding was provided under the Countryside Stewardship Scheme for (a) live agreements and (b) live agreements providing public access (i) within two miles of an urban area and (ii) within two miles of the coast (A) in the agreement year 2004 and (B) from the scheme's inception to November 2005.

Jim Knight: This information could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by her Department in the past 12 months.

Jim Knight: I following table shows thefts of items valued at over £100 from core DEFRA buildings from 1 January to 31 December 2005.
	
		
			 Description Value (£) 
		
		
			 Fujitsu Laptop computer 600 
			 Kodak digital camera 200 
			 Fuji digital camera 400 
			 Nokia mobile phone 300 
			 2 x Dell laptops and accessories 2,000 
			 Dell PDA; Nokia mobile phone 305 
			 Sony Discman 100 
			 Toshiba laptop computer 650 
			 Dell flat screen monitor 100 
			 Dell flat screen monitor 100 
			 Dell laptop and docking station 1,050

Departmental Energy Use

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much energy was consumed by her Department in each of the last five years; and how much was spent on energy in each year.

Jim Knight: Defra was created in June 2001. The following information relates to the four years since then.
	
		
			  2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Energy consumed KWh (Thousand) 155,195 143,957 141,421 134,585 
			 Energy consumed (weather corrected) KWh (Thousand) 164,586 150,381 148,169 142,671 
			 Cost of energy (£000) 3,952 4,155 3,984 4,407

Departmental Equipment

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) laptops and (b) mobile phones her Department bought in each year since 1997; and what the cost of each category of equipment was in each year.

Jim Knight: DEFRA came into being in June 2001. From information held centrally the cost of each category of equipment in core-DEFRA since 2001 is:
	
		
			   £ 
			  Mobile phones Laptops 
		
		
			 2001–02 93,272 1,083,488 
			 2002–03 25,721 817,008 
			 2003–04 28,761 897,982 
			 2004–05 70,685 165,111 
		
	
	As at 12 January 2006, core-DEFRA had 2,030 mobile phones. Information for the previous financial years is not held centrally and mobile phone numbers for those years could only be provided at disproportionate cost. For the financial years 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05 (end April 04-end September 04) the numbers of laptops were 789, 966, 880 and 163 respectively. On 1 October 2004, DEFRA owned 1,575 laptops which were transferred to IBM's ownership under the e-D contract between IBM and the Department. Since this date, and to 12 January 2006, DEFRA has requested a further 926 laptops from IBM. Under the e-D contract DEFRA does not purchase laptops but pays a service charge for each item.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what the cost was of pension contributions incurred by (a) her Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which she is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

Jim Knight: The cost of pension contributions incurred by the core Department, the Pesticides Safety Directorate and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate are shown in the following table:
	
		
			£ 
			  2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(4) 
		
		
			 Defra 25,453,000 27,164,000 39,464,000 
			 PSD 654,000 718,000 1,041,000 
			 VMD 542,000 575,000 798,000 
		
	
	(4) Estimate
	Figures for 2002–03 are not available.
	Figures for the non-departmental public bodies and remainder of the Executive Agencies are not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost. The breakdown of costs by country and English region cannot be provided without incurring disproportionate cost.
	For 2005–06, employers' contributions are payable to the Principal Civil Service Pension Scheme (PCSPS) at one of four rates in the ranges 16.2 to 24.6 per cent. of pensionable pay, based on salary bands. The Scheme Actuary reviews employer contributions every four years following a full scheme valuation; last carried out as at 31 March 2003. The contribution rates reflect the cost of benefits as they accrue (net of employee contributions), not the costs as they are actually incurred, and reflect past experience of the scheme.

Departmental Expenditure

Mark Francois: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much has been spent in each year since 1997 by her Department on salaries paid to civil servants.

Jim Knight: Departmental expenditure on salaries and wages paid to permanent staff is shown in note 2.A of the departmental annual resource accounts. Figures for the Department since 2001–02 are shown in the following table.
	There are no figures provided for DEFRA's predecessor Departments as this information could only be provided at disproportionate cost.
	
		
			  Expenditure on salaries (£000) Expenditure on salaries as percentage of total spend1 
		
		
			 2001–02 261,694 4.8 
			 2002–03 305,285 6.7 
			 2003–04 325,206 6.5 
			 2004–05 333,874 5.9 
		
	
	(5) Total spend is defined as total public spending as shown in Table 1 of the DEFRA departmental report 2005 (Cm 6537).

Departmental IT Systems

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how much her Department has spent on IT systems in each year since 1997; what the purpose of each system is; what the outturn against planned expenditure of each system was; and what the (a) planned and (b) actual date of completion of each system was.

Jim Knight: Since the creation of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs during the financial year 2001–02, the Department has spent the following amounts on IT systems:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 2001–02 53,746,277.74 
			 2002–03 52,328,672.88 
			 2003–04 57,143,428.57 
			 2004–05 62,460,067.88 
		
	
	The figures quoted above include the cost of maintaining an in-house IT service, including centralised applications development, prior to the outsourcing of this function on 1 October 2004 to International Business Machines (UK) Ltd, and from that date any payments made under the new arrangements.
	I refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then right hon. Minister of State for Rural Affairs to the hon. Member for St. Ives (Andrew George) on 21 October 2004, Official Report, column 832W, that provided that the final contract to IBM has a potential cost of £509 million over 10 years.
	Specific information as requested for each system is not held centrally and to gather this detail would incur a disproportionate cost to the Department.

Departmental Staff

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many staff employed by her Department live in Castle Point.

Jim Knight: The home addresses of staff are not held in a form that would enable the number living within a parliamentary constituency to be determined without incurring disproportionate cost.

Departmental Vehicles

Theresa Villiers: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many cars are (a) owned and (b) leased by her Department; what models the cars are; what type of petrol each model requires; and what the fuel efficiency is of each model.

Jim Knight: The car fleet of DEFRA and associated Executive Agencies comprises of:
	(a) 333 owned cars, and
	(b) 86 lease cars.
	This excludes HGV's, vans, 4x4's, and people carriers in the fleet.
	Of these 372 are diesel, 21 are petrol, 18 dual fuel petrol/LPG and eight petrol/electric hybrids.
	A spreadsheet made available in the Library of the House provides owned and leased vehicles detailing make, model and fuel type.
	We are unable to provide information on fuel efficiency of each car, as this would be at disproportionate cost.

Eggs (Sensitive Product Status)

Mark Todd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she is taking to seek sensitive product status for eggs in shells in the forthcoming World Trade Organisation talks.

Jim Knight: In October, in the run-up to the 6th Ministerial meeting in Hong Kong, the EU made an offer on improved market access for agricultural products. Others, such as the US, did so too. An agreed feature of the market access negotiations is that all countries will be permitted to protect sensitive products, by applying less than the agreed reduction rates to the tariffs on these products. The EU suggested that up to 8 per cent. of a country's tariff lines on agricultural products should be deemed sensitive products. The US suggested 1 per cent., so there is a considerable divide here that, because the matter was not discussed or decided at Hong Kong, still needs bridging.
	The Commission has not made any list of sensitive products available as yet; nor is it likely to do so before the figure for sensitive products is agreed. The EU may yet have to offer a lower figure than 8 per cent. in order to secure a Doha deal. In addition, agreeing the treatment of sensitive products is, of course, as important as agreeing the number.
	The UK Government are not endorsing any product as sensitive until the number and treatment of sensitive products is agreed. In general, you will be aware that the UK Government wishes to see only a minimal number of sensitive products as we believe a large number would undermine the potential benefits of the Doha Round.
	The representatives for the Egg Industry can lobby the Commission direct. The UK Government will review its own position when we know the parameters we have to work to.

Fallen Goats

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps she (a) takes and (b) plans to take to monitor the extent to which her Department's approved agents collecting fallen goats under the compulsory Scrapie Monitoring Scheme operate in accordance with biosecurity regulations.

Ben Bradshaw: A key objective of the Government's Animal Health and Welfare Strategy is to raise biosecurity standards on farms and hauliers involved in the collection of fallen goats from farms should adhere to biosecurity protocols issued by DEFRA. This includes making sure that vehicles and equipment are maintained in good working order at all times, and, in particular, that surfaces liable to contamination are thoroughly cleansed and disinfected.
	Action will be taken against any haulier involved in the collection of fallen goats from farms who fails to adhere to these biosecurity protocols.

Farming

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many (a) dairy, (b) arable and (c) mixed farms there were in West Lancashire in (i) 1976, (ii) 1980, (iii) 1990 and (iv) 2000.

Jim Knight: The number of holdings by farm type in West Lancashire are as follows:
	
		
			  (a) Dairy (b) Cereals General cropping (c) Mixed 
		
		
			 (i) 1990 16 43 349 28 
			 (ii) 2000 13 59 218 23 
		
	
	Notes:
	Figures prior to 2000 cover main holdings only. Figures from 2000 onwards include main and minor holdings. A holding is defined as minor if it meets all the following conditions:
	(a) The total area is less than six hectares.
	(b) The labour requirement is estimated to be less than 100 standard person days.
	(c) There is no regular full-time farmer or worker.
	(d) The glasshouse area is less than 100 square metres.
	(e) The occupier does not farm another holding.
	Source:
	June Agricultural Survey
	Comparable data for earlier years are not available.

Green Ministers Group

James Duddridge: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many times the Green Ministers' Group has met in the past 12 months.

Elliot Morley: Following the general election in May 2005, the Cabinet Sub-Committee of Green Ministers (ENV(G)) was replaced by the Ministerial Sub-Committee on Sustainable Development in Government (EE(SD)) whose members are departmental Sustainable Development Ministers It is established practice under exemption two of Part II of the Code of Practice on Access to Government Information not to disclose information relating to the proceedings of Cabinet Committees.

Grey Squirrels

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what discussions she plans to have with landowners to persuade them to allow the culling of grey squirrels on their land.

Jim Knight: The decision to control grey squirrel lies with individual landowners and we have no plans to carry out culling of grey squirrel on private land. However, we will be encouraging landowners to cull grey squirrels in priority areas where there is a critical threat to woodland and priority species such as the dormouse, red squirrels and woodland birds.
	The recently published Grey Squirrels and England's Woodlands: Policy and Action Statement set out specific areas for action by the Forestry Commission over the next three years. These are:
	Research into new methods of controlling grey squirrel;
	Advice on best practice;
	Grants to woodland owners;
	Supporting partnerships and encouraging co-operative action;
	Applying best practice on the public forest estate.
	The Red Alert North England Partnership which includes DEFRA and the Forestry Commission have agreement with the owners of the 16 designated red squirrel reserves that grey squirrel will be culled. They are still working with landowners in the buffer zones to ensure grey squirrels are also controlled in these areas. The Forestry Commission's English Woodland Grant scheme will enable incentives to be offered towards the cost of grey squirrel control.

Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many meetings of the EU (a) Committee for the implementation of the Directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control, (b) Committee for the adaption to technical progress and application of the Community award scheme for an eco-label and (c) Committee on the monitoring mechanism of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the Community have taken place during the UK presidency of the EU; who presided over each meeting; which other UK representatives were present; what provision was made for representation of the devolved governments; and if she will make a statement.

Elliot Morley: In respect of the implementation of the Directive concerning integrated pollution prevention and control, I refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1463W.
	There were no meetings of the Committee for the adaption to technical progress and application of the Community award scheme for an eco-label.
	The Committee on the monitoring mechanism of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, met on 20 July and 16 September during the UK Presidency. The Committee was chaired by the European Commission. The UK was represented by a Defra official.
	The devolved Administrations are routinely asked to represent their views.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Jim Knight: An article was placed in Defra's Office Notices (29 September 2005 edition), which raised awareness of forthcoming Jewish religious festivals, including Yom Kippur. No specific measures were taken to raise awareness of Hanukkah.
	However, Defra's Diversity and Equality unit (DEU) maintains an extensive intranet site, providing help and guidance to all staff, which gives comprehensive information on the world's major religions/faiths, including Judaism. The site also contains an annually updated interfaith calendar, which details the major festivals of all the major religions/faiths throughout the year. Furthermore, the site contains guidance on the regulations implementing the EU Employment Directive 2000, which came into force on 2 December 2003, under which it is unlawful, to discriminate in employment and training on grounds of religion or belief.
	In recognition of the diversity of faiths/religions practiced by Defra staff, managers are encouraged, where practical, to allow non-Christian staff to work on privilege days falling on Christian holidays, and take the equivalent time at a later date to allow them to celebrate/observe their own religious festivals. In addition, Defra wherever possible, makes space available for staff who wish to pray.

Live Exports

Lindsay Hoyle: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her Department's policy is on live (a) sheep and (b) calf exports to Europe.

Ben Bradshaw: The Department would prefer a trade in meat to the long distance transport of live animals to slaughter, whether in the UK or across borders. We would also like to see a lower limit for maximum journey times.
	There is currently no export of calves and we are pleased that the use of veal crates will be banned throughout the EU from 1 January 2007 (though they have already largely been phased out). This will mean that calves in Europe will enjoy the same minimum levels of welfare as UK calves have done since 1990.
	All animals should be transported in good conditions. New welfare in transport rules come into force in January 2007 under EC Regulation 1/2005. The UK supported the new regulation as it does much to help improve animal welfare in transport, such as improved enforcement of the rules, and new training and authorisation procedures but we regret that it did not lower the maximum journey times to slaughter.

Livestock Movements

Elfyn Llwyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will review the need for the current six-day rule as it applies to the movement of sheep.

Ben Bradshaw: I do not believe that this is the right time for a review. In 2003, the extensive cost benefit analysis into movement standstills demonstrated the significant benefits of standstill regimes in reducing both the size and cost of a disease outbreak. And these conclusions remain valid.
	Standstills confer significant protection when disease is present but undetected. I do not believe that it would be at all desirable to remove this protection from the sheep industry.

Organic Farming

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what proportion of farms are managed to Soil Association organic standards in (a) England, (b) the Tees Valley and (c) the Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland constituency.

Jim Knight: Soil Association Certification Ltd are one of the 10 private bodies currently approved by DEFRA for the inspection and certification of organic farmers in the UK in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91.
	Of the 192,824 agricultural holdings in England, 2,562 currently hold organic certification and of these 1,613 are certified by the Soil Association. The corresponding figures for the Tees Valley are 842, three and zero and for Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland 229, one and zero.

Organic Farming

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many farms have converted to Soil Association organic standards since 1997.

Jim Knight: Soil Association Certification Ltd are one of the ten private bodies currently approved by DEFRA for the inspection and certification of organic farmers in the UK in accordance with Council Regulation (EEC) 2092/91.
	In 1997 there were 1,027 1 organic farms in the UK of which 750 2 were certified by the Soil Association. Currently there are 4,016 3 organic farms in the UK, of which 2,237 3 are certified by the Soil Association.
	1 Source—Soil Association Food and Farming Report 1999.
	2 Source—Soil Association.
	3 Source—DEFRA Statistics.

Pheasant Shooting

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department collects information on the number of farms that have started pheasant shoots as part of their business since 2000.

Jim Knight: The Department does not have any information on the number of farms that have started pheasant shoots as part of their business since 2000.
	The most recent information collected on shooting was on the 2003 June agricultural and horticultural census. The results show that an estimated 2,150 farms in England are engaging in shooting as a commercial activity. This figure includes the shooting of all game species and also includes non-game shooting, for example, clay pigeon shooting.

Pheasant Shooting

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many grants her Department has made for pheasant rearing as part of farm diversification in each year since 2000.

Jim Knight: Since 2000, DEFRA has funded the following relevant projects as part of the support available for farm diversification:
	one project funded through delegated grants under the objective 1 programme in Cornwall from 2001 to 2003
	one project funded through a Countryside Service Sustainable Development Grant in 2004–05 to assist the running of a private shoot; and
	a further project involving game processing for retail sale after the birds had been shot. This was funded through the rural enterprise scheme in 2003–04
	ERDP (England rural development plan) schemes do not target specific sectors of the food industry, including people involved with pheasant rearing. It is up to individual applicants to come up with projects that meet the criteria of ERDP schemes. ERDP schemes are also competitive, and there is no guarantee that an entirely eligible application will receive funding.

Pheasant Shooting

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether her Department collects statistics on the number of pheasants reared for shooting each year.

Jim Knight: The Department does not collect statistics on the number of pheasants reared for shooting. However, research carried out for the Department in summer 2005 estimates that the number of pheasants reared for shooting in Great Britain each year is in the region of 20 to 30 million birds.

School Milk

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has to change the way the school milk subsidy scheme is administered; and if she will make a statement.

Jim Knight: The Rural Payments Agency must administer the school milk subsidy scheme in accordance with regulatory, accreditation and audit requirements set by the EU. These rules allow little scope for changing current practice.

School Milk

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs which local authorities participate in the school milk subsidy scheme.

Jim Knight: The following local authorities currently participate in the school milk subsidy scheme in England.
	Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Bath and North East Somerset Council
	Birmingham City Council
	Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council
	Blackpool Borough Council
	Bournemouth Borough Council
	Bracknell Forest Borough Council
	Bradford Metropolitan District Council
	Brighton and Hove City Council
	Buckinghamshire County Council
	Bury Metropolitan Borough Council
	Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council
	Cambridgeshire County Council
	Cheshire County Council
	Cornwall County Council
	Coventry City Council
	Cumbria County Council
	Darlington Borough Council
	Derby City Council
	Derbyshire County Council
	Devon County Council
	Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council
	Dorset County Council
	Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Durham County Council
	East Riding of Yorkshire Council
	East Sussex County Council
	Essex County Council
	Fordbridge Parish Council
	Gateshead Metropolitan Borough Council
	Gloucestershire County Council
	Halton Borough Council
	Hampshire County Council
	Hartlepool Borough Council
	Herefordshire County Council
	Hertfordshire County Council
	Isle of Wight Council
	Kent County Council
	Kingshurst Parish Council
	Kingston upon Hull Learning Services
	Kirklees Metropolitan Council
	Knowsley Metropolitan Borough Council
	Lancashire Education Authority
	Leeds City Council
	Leicester City Council
	Leicestershire County Council
	Lincolnshire County Council
	Liverpool City Council
	London Borough of Barking and Dagenham
	London Borough of Barnet
	London Borough of Bexley
	London Borough of Brent
	London Borough of Bromley
	London Borough of Camden
	London Borough of Croydon
	London Borough of Ealing
	London Borough of Enfield
	London Borough of Greenwich
	London Borough of Hackney
	London Borough of Hammersmith
	London Borough of Haringey
	London Borough of Havering
	London Borough of Hillingdon
	London Borough of Hounslow
	London Borough of Lambeth
	London Borough of Lewisham
	London Borough of Merton
	London Borough of Newham
	London Borough of Redbridge
	London Borough of Richmond
	London Borough of Southwark
	London Borough of Sutton
	London Borough of Tower Hamlets
	London Borough of Waltham Forest
	London Borough of Wandsworth
	Luton Borough Council
	Manchester City Council
	Medway Council
	Middlesbrough Council
	Milton Keynes Council
	Newcastle City Council
	Norfolk County Council
	North East Derbyshire District Council
	North East Lincolnshire Council
	North Lincolnshire Council
	North Somerset Council
	North Tyneside Council
	North Yorkshire County Council
	Northamptonshire County Council
	Northumberland County Council
	Nottingham City Council
	Nottinghamshire County Council
	Oldham Metropolitan Borough Council
	Peterborough City Council
	Plymouth City Council
	Poole Borough Council
	Portsmouth City Council
	Reading Borough Council
	Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council
	Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council
	Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
	Royal Borough of Kingston
	Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
	Rutland County Council
	Salford City Council
	Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
	Sefton City Council
	Sheffield County Council
	Shropshire County Council
	Slough Borough Council
	Smiths Wood Parish Council
	Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council
	South Gloucestershire Council
	South Tyneside Council
	Southampton City Council
	Southend-on-Sea Borough Council
	St. Helens Council
	Staffordshire County Council
	Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council
	Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
	Stoke-on-Trent City Council
	Suffolk County Council
	Surrey County Council
	Swindon Borough Council
	Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council
	Telford and Wrekin Council
	Thurrock Council
	Torbay Council
	Trafford Metropolitan Borough Council
	Wakefield Metropolitan District Council
	Walsall Council
	Warrington Borough Council
	Warwickshire County Council
	West Berkshire Council
	West Sussex County Council
	Westminster City Council
	Wigan Council
	Wiltshire County Council
	Winsford Town Council
	Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council
	Wokingham District Council
	Wolverhampton City Council
	Worcestershire County Council
	York City Council

Set-aside

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how many UK farmers have applied for set aside payments for each of the last seven years; and how much was allocated for set aside payments in each such year.

Jim Knight: The following table details the number of farmers in England that have applied for set-aside broken down into the totals for each of the last seven scheme years.
	It also details, by scheme year, the total amount paid for set-aside.
	
		
			  Number of applications Value of set-aside paid (£) 
		
		
			 1999 31,373 157,352,422 
			 2000 30,892 104,002,110 
			 2001 32,909 163,175,036 
			 2002 30,707 120,681,975 
			 2003 30,571 152,041,890 
			 2004 30,670 111,390,408 
			 2005(6) 34,014 11,148,768 
		
	
	(6) The payment for 2005 is an estimate.
	The variation in payment value is due to fluctuations within the aid rates applicable.
	A proportion of 2005 scheme year claims are still being validated, so the precise number and value might change.
	The other parts of the UK are the responsibility of their respective devolved administrations.

Stray Animals

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether funding has been made available to local authorities to enable them to fulfil their responsibility for looking after stray animals under the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005.

Ben Bradshaw: holding answer 31 January 2006
	Funds will be transferred from the police to local authorities to reflect the transfer of responsibility for stray dogs under section 68 of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005. Negotiations over this transfer of funds are currently taking place between DEFRA, the Home Office, the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and the Local Government Association and section 68 will not commence until an agreement has been reached.

Tail Docking

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether all tail docking of animals is prohibited.

Ben Bradshaw: No, the docking of dogs' tails is allowed but only if performed by a vet. The routine tail docking of piglets is prohibited, but they can be docked on the advice of a vet where tail biting is likely to occur. The tail docking of cattle is prohibited except in an emergency by a vet. And the Docking and Nicking of Horses Act 1949 prevents the docking of a horse's tail and restricts the import of a horse with a docked tail.
	The Animal Welfare Bill will prohibit the mutilation of animals for non-medical reasons, with exemptions set out in secondary legislation.

Tail Docking

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what steps the Government are taking to prevent people from travelling abroad to get their dogs' tails docked.

Ben Bradshaw: The docking of dogs' tails is currently legal if performed by a vet and the Government do not consider it necessary to restrict the ability of people to take their dog abroad to get it docked.
	Anyone travelling abroad with a dog has to comply with appropriate veterinary requirements when entering the country of destination, and when re-entering the UK.

UK Regional Development Regulations

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what assessment she has made of the likely impact of the proposed EU budget on the EU regional development programme, with particular reference to UK regional development regulations (RDRs); and when an announcement will be made on the next tranche of RDRs.

Jim Knight: Based on the assumption that this question relates to UK rural development programmes which will be developed in light of the new Rural Development Regulation (EC Regulation No. 1698 of 2005) and come into force from 1 January 2007, the overall budget for rural development in Europe has been set at €69.75 billion for the period 2007–13.
	The agreement on the EU budget deal allows member states, including the UK, to begin the necessary preparatory work for the next round of rural development programmes to run from 2007. The allocation of EU rural development funds to member states has yet to be determined and will be subject to proposals currently being devised by the European Commission. The figure of €69.75 billion is similar to current rural development expenditure, although the focus of this expenditure in the new financial perspective will be upon the new member states.
	Importantly, the agreed budget deal included a provision allowing member states, at their discretion, to transfer up to 20 per cent. of pillar 1 funds and make them available for expenditure on rural development measures. Decisions on the overall level of transfer needed will depend on the UK's share of EU funding for rural development, and on the overall size and content of the new rural development programmes to operate from 1 January 2007. In England, we hope to launch a public consultation on the next rural development programme in February 2006.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

BBC World Service

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the BBC World Service's decision to cease broadcasting non-English language services in parts of eastern Europe, Thailand and Kazakhstan; and what assessment has been made of the likely impact of this decision.

Jack Straw: I have received representations from Members of Parliament and members of the public in the UK, as well as from some Governments and members of the public in the countries concerned. Many have expressed concern and opposition to the changes while some have endorsed the reprioritisation of the BBC World Service. The changes involved were decided on the basis of a thorough assessment of the reach and impact of all its language services. The overall impact of the closures has been judged to be low.

Correspondence

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to reply to the letter of 31 October from the hon. Member for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton regarding his constituent, Mr. M. A. Lindsay.

Kim Howells: My noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, replied to the letter of 31 October from the hon. Member on 7 December 2005.

Co(r)te d'Ivoire

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Co(r)te d'Ivoire.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 26 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2240–41W.

Departmental Websites

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Ian Pearson: The cost of maintaining the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) Web Platform, which hosts all of the FCO's public facing websites for 2004–05 was £548,000. Costs for the main FCO website are included within this overall cost. The number of unique visits to the FCO website for each of the 12 months during that year were as follows:
	
		
			  Visits 
		
		
			 2004  
			 April 1,079,439 
			 May 1,168,731 
			 June 1,214,901 
			 July 1,217,242 
			 August 1,211,198 
			 September 1,213,467 
			 October 1,490,828 
			 November 1,262,186 
			 December 1,052,104 
			   
			 2005  
			 January 1,158,188 
			 February 920,028 
			 March 981,640

Ethiopia

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the human rights situation in Ethiopia.

Ian Pearson: The UK is concerned about governance, human rights and the detention of opposition leaders, journalists and members of civil society in Ethiopia. We have raised our concerns directly and at the highest level with the Ethiopian Government, most recently when my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for International Development visited Ethiopia on 18 January.
	During his visit, my right hon. Friend called for an independent investigation into the alleged recent human rights violations in Oromiya; a prompt, fair and open judicial process for those currently detained; international jurists to observe the trials, and that an independent international organisation be allowed to inspect all the places where people are currently being detained. On 17 December 2005, in a meeting with my noble Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister for Africa, Lord Triesman of Tottenham, Prime Minister Meles agreed to observation of trials of the opposition by international jurists, the first of whom has been appointed.
	We remain committed to supporting poverty reduction and the democratisation process in Ethiopia. We will continue to work with the Government of Ethiopia, the international community and other stakeholders to make progress on human rights and governance in Ethiopia.

European Community

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the legislative items introduced under articles (a) 94, (b) 95 and (c) 308 of the treaty establishing the European Community in the past 12 months.

Douglas Alexander: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 18 October 2005, Official Report, column 904W. The Government do not keep a central overview of legislative items introduced under articles 94, 95 and 308 of the treaty. The Europa website provides a means of searching for all legislation. This is available at: http://www.europa.eu.int/eur-lex/en/search/search_lif.html New proposals are listed by subject-matter on the main page at: http://www.europa.eu.int/index_en.htm

Overseas Territories

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what ministerial visits to the Overseas Territories are planned before January 2007; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: No specific trips are planned but foreign engagements for Government Ministers are kept under constant review. It is not practice to announce such visits until they are firm. Because of the unpredictable nature of world events, final decisions on overseas visits are often not possible until very shortly before the day of travel and an announcement is sometimes not possible until a visit is under way.

Overseas Territories

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what assessment the UK Government have made of the vulnerability of each of the Overseas Territories to (a) natural disasters and (b) man-made disasters; and if he will make a statement.

Douglas Alexander: The UK Overseas Territories are mostly small islands, which are potentially at risk from a range of man made and natural disasters. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has a rolling programme of capability reviews to assess the vulnerability of those most at risk and offer advice on measures to mitigate a disaster's impact and manage the crisis. The review process also assesses a territory's ability to deal with disasters locally.

Overseas Territories

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what contingency plans his Department has in place for (a) natural and (b) man-made disasters in each of the Overseas Territories.

Douglas Alexander: Foreign and Commonwealth Office Rapid Deployment Teams are ready at all times to respond to crises and disasters all over the world including the Overseas Territories. There is also a dedicated Overseas Territories Management Oversight Committee, which supports the Governor in time of disaster, and works with other Government Departments including the Department for International Development, in organising the UK's response in London. Each Overseas Territories has ownership of its own disaster contingency plans.

Rendition

Nicholas Clegg: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether individuals have been subject to rendition from the United Kingdom to an overseas country since 1997.

Kim Howells: No.

Rohingya People

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the number of Rohingya people living in (a) Bangladesh, (b) Pakistan, (c) Saudi Arabia, (d) United Arab Emirates, (e) Malaysia and (f) Thailand.

Ian Pearson: We do not normally hold figures for the total number of Rohingya people living in third countries.
	However, inquiries carried out by our Missions suggest that there are between 450,000 and 500,000 Rohingyas living in Saudi Arabia, 11,000 in Malaysia and between 150,000 and 220,000 in Bangladesh. We have no overall figure for Rohingyas living in Pakistan, but there are an estimated 80,000 living in Karachi.
	There are no figures available for Thailand or the United Arab Emirates.

Slave Trade Abolition (Bicentenary)

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will use the 2007 bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade to press for effective worldwide prohibition of slavery and for the establishment of mechanisms to monitor and report on compliance.

Ian Pearson: The Government are committed to marking in 2007 the 200th anniversary of the passing of the Abolition of the Slave Trade Act. My right hon. Friend the Deputy Prime Minister is chairing an Advisory Group, which includes a broad range of faith, community, city and cultural representatives, to develop proposals on the Government's contributions to the bicentenary. We will want to look both to the past and to the lessons that have been learnt and to raise awareness of the millions of people still living under contemporary forms of slavery. Around the world, the UK works in partnership with foreign Governments, international organisations and civil society to break the cycle of poverty and social exclusion that are at the root of most forms of contemporary slavery. Together with the Advisory Group, we will consider how best to use this opportunity to make progress on the range of issues that persist today.

Sudan

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs 
	(1)  what discussions he had had with the Government of Sudan on permitting civil society within Sudan access to the work of the African Union without fear of harassment;
	(2)  what plans he has to help facilitate a civil society forum in Sudan.

Ian Pearson: On 22 January 2006, the 35 participants in an open civil society forum on working with the African Union in Khartoum, organised by the Sudanese Organisation Against Torture, were detained for more than three hours at the conference venue by the Sudanese authorities. All were released unharmed. Our ambassador in Khartoum raised this with the Government of Sudan, and attended the scene during the detention. Other embassy staff were on hand to speak to the participants and provide consular assistance which, thankfully, was not needed. We are clear that such harassment of civil society is unacceptable and that the Government of Sudan must strictly uphold the freedoms of expression and association that are guaranteed under the constitution of Sudan. We are pressing the EU presidency to lead a formal high-level protest to the Government of Sudan in the coming days, and will continue to raise this matter with the Government of Sudan.
	The UK strongly supports the development of civil society in Sudan. We are supporting a capacity building programme for civil society organisations and the media in Sudan including providing more than £200,000 over three years to support the work of the Sudanese Organisation Against Torture. We are also contributing to the Multidonor Trust Fund which is developing a civil society programme to support civil society voice and advocacy.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Colin Worton

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 317W, on Colin Worton, by what criteria claims for (a) compensation and (b) an ex gratia payment are assessed.

David Hanson: There are two schemes for awarding compensation for miscarriages of justice. These are the statutory scheme under Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the ex gratia arrangements which were set out in a statement to the House of Commons on 29 November 1985, Official Report, columns 691–692, by the then Home Secretary and which have been adopted by successive Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland since then.
	Section 133 provides that the Secretary of State shall pay compensation to a person who has been convicted of and punished for a criminal offence, where the conviction is subsequently reversed or a pardon is granted on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice. Compensation shall not be paid where the non-disclosure of the unknown fact was wholly or partially attributable to the person convicted.
	A reversal in this context refers to a conviction which has been quashed either on an out-of-time appeal, or on a reference under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, section 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 or section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005.
	Under the ex gratia scheme compensation may exceptionally be granted where a person has spent time in custody following a wrongful conviction or charge, where there has been serious default on the part of the police or some other public authority, or where facts emerge, either at trial or on appeal within time, that completely exonerate the accused.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what standards were applied in deciding that the two positive samples collected from Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin, in November 2004 were not considered hazardous (a) for human consumption and (b) to aquatic organisms.

Angela Smith: Asbestos fibres were detected in two water samples collected on 5 November 2004 from (a) the discharge point from Crosshill Quarry, and (b) the receiving waterway 30 metres downstream. Analysis of the samples collected showed that they contained, respectively, twenty one thousand (21,000) and four thousand two hundred (4,200) asbestos fibres per litre of water. To put the above-mentioned number of asbestos fibres in context, the USA Environment Protection Agency has set a limit on the number of fibres allowed in drinking water at seven million (7,000,000) per litre. Moreover, it is the view of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that there is no consistent evidence that ingested asbestos is hazardous to health and thus it is concluded that there is no need to establish a health-based guideline value for asbestos and drinking water. The Department is guided by the WHO advice on the matter.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland on what dates in (a) July 1984 and (b) February 2004 water and soil samples were collected from Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin; and what the results of each of those samples were.

Angela Smith: Environment and Heritage Service of Department of the Environment did not collect water or soil samples from the Crosshill Quarry site in July 1984 or February 2004. Records held by Environment and Heritage Service contain no evidence that samples were collected by the owners of the site on any date in July 1984 or February 2004.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland under what authority the contractor was permitted to cut the railway carriages at Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin, into three sections between 25 November 2003 and February 2004.

Angela Smith: Antrim borough council was the regulatory authority for Crosshill when the site operator proposed the reburial of the carriages and when work commenced. The Department of the Environment was not in a position to give authority for the work.
	No additional authority was required from the Health and Safety Executive. Nevertheless, the site operators did provide HSE with a method statement for their proposals for the reburial of the carriages.

Crosshill Quarry

William McCrea: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what action was taken to identify the source of white asbestos found in Crosshill Quarry, Crumlin, in February 2005; what investigation was undertaken by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: It has not been possible to be conclusive about the exact source of the asbestos fibres found in the soil samples. This site was used for several years as a landfill for demolition waste, and the asbestos fibres identified are typically found in a range of construction and demolition waste.
	The Department undertook an initial soil survey for asbestos at Crosshill Quarry in February 2005, and in light of the results recommended that remedial actions be undertaken by the site operators. On completion of these remedial actions, the Department undertook a further soil survey in July 2005. The remedial actions have been effective in significantly removing the asbestos fibres in the two identified areas in the February tests.

Ministerial Car Fleet

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 11 January 2006, Official Report, column 637W, on the Ministerial Car Fleet, from what budget ministerial cars and drivers are paid.

Shaun Woodward: Cars and drivers for Northern Ireland Office (NIO) Ministers are provided by either the Police Service of Northern Ireland or the Government Car and Dispatch Agency, who then recover their costs directly from the NIO.

Police

Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many officers based in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales have been (i) transferred and (ii) seconded into the Police Service of Northern Ireland in each year since the implementation of the Patten Report.

Shaun Woodward: The number of officers transferred and seconded from GB police services into the Police Service of Northern Ireland since the year 2000 to date has been provided in the following tables.
	
		(i) Officers transferred from GB Police Services
		
			 Transferred 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) 
		
		
			 England 0 2 25 7 8 13 1 
			 Scotland 0 0 0 2 2 1 1 
			 Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
		
	
	
		(ii) Officers seconded from GB Police Services
		
			 Seconded 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 (to date) 
		
		
			 England 2 2 0 2 1 3 12 
			 Scotland 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 
			 Wales 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what arrangements are in place to ensure that bodies within the responsibility of his Department comply with the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000.

Peter Hain: Historically because the Race Relations Act 1976 did not apply to Northern Ireland it was understood that the provisions of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 did not apply. The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) and Executive have a parallel and similarly stringent mechanism through Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1993 which has race as an equality category. However the Department has agreed with the Commission for Racial Equality that the Northern Ireland Office will operate on the principle that section 71(1) of the Race Relations Act and amendment Order applies to all of the Northern Ireland Office functions both in Northern Ireland and Great Britain. It was further agreed that the Department' s equality related statutory duties will be reviewed as part of a wider review of the NIO's equality scheme under section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998. The Commission for Racial Equality will review compliance when the reviewed equality scheme is completed.

Speech Therapy

Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the possible impact of the cancellation of the speech therapy degree course for 2005–06 at the University of Ulster on speech therapy waiting lists in Northern Ireland.

Shaun Woodward: Entry to the speech and language degree course at the University of Ulster is being deferred for the academic year 2006–07. This decision is part of a phased move to change the duration of the course from four years to three years, which is in line with courses in England, Wales and Scotland. Plans have been put in place to ensure that there will be no year without a supply of graduates available for employment in the Health and Personal Social Services.

US Visa Applications

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 2247W, on US Visa Applications, how many applications his Department has discussed with the US Consulate in Belfast in each of the last 15 years.

Peter Hain: None. Decisions on applications for visas are a matter for the US Administration.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the potential impact on councils' draft rates estimates of the changes in the Waste Management Grant Scheme.

Angela Smith: The reduction of £3 million in the Waste Management Grant Scheme will impact on all 26 councils to varying degrees. Only individual councils can define the precise effect this has on the district rate.
	However, the Department of the Environment has conducted a provisional assessment of the impact based on district councils' spending profiles. It indicates that councils which invest in capital projects will be unaffected, whereas others who utilised the scheme for revenue spend may have to raise their rates by between 1 and 2.5p.
	Whatever money councils choose to raise, it will be in addition to the capital moneys from the Waste Management Grant Scheme.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Waste Management Grant Scheme for 2006–07 has been reduced to £7 million; and if he will make a statement.

Angela Smith: The reduction was made in light of the Priorities and Budget exercise for 2005–08, which took into account the ongoing pressures on all elements of the Northern Ireland block allocation. The £7 million budget for 2006–07 reflects the pattern of carry over in councils' capital spend.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons local councils were not notified of changes in the Waste Management Grant Scheme before the Northern Ireland Local Government Association Strategic Forum on 12 January.

Angela Smith: District councils were made aware of the possibility of a reduction to the grant and closure of the Waste Management Grant Scheme during the summer of 2005. When this was confirmed in October 2005, councils made adjustments to their spending plans.
	In light of pressures on the Northern Ireland budget, Ministers have had no option but to take a firm line on resource funding. Their approval to provide funding for the last year of the scheme, granted at the end of December 2005, was given with the condition that the money should only be used for capital projects as originally planned.
	EHS was not in a position to advise councils while it pressed for a relaxation to the resource funding position, which it continued to do until mid-January. When it became clear that there was no prospect of change, the matter was raised at the NILGA meeting on 12 January 2006.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will allow allocations for the Waste Management Grant Scheme in Northern Ireland to be spent on revenue expenditure.

Angela Smith: Flexibility in the application of the Waste Management Grant Scheme arose in the past from in-year monitoring, which enabled a degree of both capital and resource spend. Pressure on budget for 2006–07 means that flexibility is no longer available.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland for what reasons the Waste Management Grant Scheme funding in Northern Ireland must be spent only on capital expenditure.

Angela Smith: The basis of the Waste Management Grant Scheme was as a capital grant for the provision of smaller infrastructure elements. Its increased use for associated resource projects has depended upon in-year monitoring, enabling flexibility between capital and resource elements, but that flexibility cannot be provided for 2006–07.
	Hard decisions had to be made during the most recent Budget process, and this resulted in the loss of flexibility for the use of funds for resources.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are available to him to ensure that local councils in Northern Ireland are able to meet their waste management requirements.

Angela Smith: I fully recognise the difficulties faced by local councils in meeting their waste management requirements, particularly those contained in the EU Landfill Directive. My Department is committed to working in partnership with councils to assist them with these responsibilities and to this end, we have set up a number of important working groups comprising representatives from central and local government.
	The Northern Ireland Landfill Allowances Scheme (NILAS) Implementation Steering Group was established in June 2005 with the aim of ensuring that Northern Ireland maximises the possibility of achieving the Landfill Directive targets for the reduction of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill.
	One of the key tasks facing local councils is the provision of a network of new infrastructure to ensure that landfill diversion targets are met. In April 2005, the Department established a Waste Infrastructure Task Force to help councils with the planning and procurement of new waste management facilities.
	The main work of the task force involves identifying appropriate structural arrangements for the procurement of waste infrastructure; the likely location, type and cost of the facilities; and a suitable procurement and funding package.
	From a financial point of view, the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service continues to support councils through grants for the treatment and safe disposal of fridges and end of life vehicles.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Correspondence

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport when she will respond to the letter of 22 December 2005 from the hon. Member for East Devon seeking an inquiry into the recent events at English National Opera.

David Lammy: I will be sending a response to the hon. Member within the next few days.

Departmental Sustainable Development

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what steps her Department takes to report publicly on its key sustainable development impacts.

James Purnell: Key operational sustainable development impacts are publicised on our website under the heading 'Framework for Sustainable Development' (see http://www.culture.gov.uk/about_dcms/sustainable_development/sustainable_development_framework.htm). I intend to publish a Sustainable Development Action Plan very shortly, followed by a progress report by the end of 2006. Our sustainable development strategy, which covers all aspects of our involvement with sustainable development, is available electronically on our website and hard copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

EU Media Plus

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which UK (a) programmes and (b) films have received funding from the EU Media Plus programme; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Government support the Media Plus programme and recognise the benefits it brings to help create a sustainable and successful film industry in the UK.
	Since 2001, the UK film industry has benefited from over €28 million, approximately £19.5 million, through the Media Plus programme, and a further €500,000 (£341,000) through the related i2i initiative.
	Specific projects to have received such funding include films such as East is East and Christmas Carol—The Movie. Slate funding received has led to the development of films such as Sylvia, A Cock and Bull Story and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
	In addition, the New Talent scheme has been particularly beneficial for the UK. The British scriptwriter, Duane Hopkins, received the 2004 MEDIA New Talent award in 2004 for his feature-length screenplay Better Things.
	TV programmes that have also benefited from the funding scheme include Why We Fight and the forthcoming In Search of Mozart.
	I am arranging for the complete list of UK programmes and films that have received financial assistance from the EU Media Plus programme to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

David Lammy: DCMS is a diverse organisation that values its staff as individuals. Although the Department does not specifically celebrate Hanukkah and Yom Kippur its diversity training promotes the need for staff to be sensitive to colleagues observing or already celebrating religious or cultural events. We also provide a religious and cultural guide and an interfaith calendar which is available to all staff on our intranet site.

Libraries

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department's policy is on stocking Bibles in libraries.

David Lammy: This is a matter for each local library authority.

Licensing Act (Welsh Forms)

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what progress has been made on providing Welsh language versions of the licensing forms issued in relation to the Licensing Act 2003.

James Purnell: holding answer 24 January 2006
	My officials have been exploring with the Welsh Language Board which other documents relating to the licensing process should be prescribed in Welsh, in addition to the applications forms. They hope to conclude those discussions shortly. We will then consult key stakeholders before finalising the regulations and laying them before Parliament in April. Subject to the usual parliamentary process, we would expect the Order prescribing the forms to come into force in the early summer. The Department is also discussing a proposed DCMS Welsh language scheme with the Welsh Language Board with the aim of treating the Welsh and English Languages equally in the conduct of public business.

National Cultural Goods

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what representations she has received on the adoption of legislation in the United Kingdom to (a) prevent seizure and (b) guarantee the security of national cultural goods on loan from other countries; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: My Department has received four letters on this subject, one of which was on behalf of a number of museum and gallery directors most affected by this issue. I am meeting the directors on 2 February to discuss what can be done to prevent the seizure of international works of art in the UK and reassure lenders that it continues to be safe to exhibit in the UK.

National Cultural Goods

Don Foster: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what assessment she has made of the adequacy of UK provisions to guarantee the security of national cultural goods on loan from other countries; and if she will make a statement.

David Lammy: The Government have reviewed the extent of the protection already available to state owned property, including national cultural goods, in the United Kingdom under the State Immunity Act 1978, and we will be considering the introduction of legislation to provide immunity from seizure for international works of art.

Olympic Games 2012

Graham Stringer: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her latest estimate is for the cost of hosting the 2012 Olympic games; and if she will make a statement.

Tessa Jowell: As I said in my recent answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Edgbaston (Ms Stuart) on 26 January 2006, Official Report, column 2296W, I have commissioned KPMG to provide advice on the costs of the London 2012 Olympic games. Their work, which is ongoing, will inform our strategy for managing the Olympic project.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether (a) Ministers and (b) officials from her Department have discussed with the National Trust the proposals from consultants for a new northern corridor route for the proposed A303 Stonehenge road improvement.

David Lammy: I am aware of outline proposals from the National Trust's consultants on a new northern corridor route for the A303 past Stonehenge. The Department for Transport will be meeting the National Trust to discuss this and other issues. My Department will chair the next Stonehenge programme board on 22 February which will provide a further opportunity for discussion.

Television Broadcasts (Violence)

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department plans, under the Government's Respect Agenda, to monitor and evaluate the effect on antisocial behaviour of the broadcasting of violent acts during peak-time television programming.

James Purnell: No. Responsibility for what is broadcast on television and radio rests with the broadcasters and the organisations which regulate broadcasting—the Office of Communications (Ofcom) the governors of the BBC, and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority.
	Under section 2.4 of Ofcom's Broadcasting Code, which applies to all broadcasters, programmes must not include material which, taking into account the context, condones or glamorises violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour and is likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour. This has been in place since July 2005. Ofcom periodically commissions research which informs the development and interpretation of its code.

Television Licences

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many fines for the non-payment of television licences have been imposed in each London constituency for each of the last five years; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: Information on fines for unlicensed use of a television receiver is not recorded separately from other offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 and the Communications Act 2003, although the majority of offences under these acts are likely to relate to television licence evasion; nor is information held by constituency. The number of offenders receiving fines for all offences under the above Acts in the Metropolitan and City of London police force areas, for each of the last five years for which information is available, was:
	
		
			  Number of fines 
		
		
			 2000 16,105 
			 2001 6,071 
			 2002 10,267 
			 2003 7,066 
			 2004 12,131

Television Licences

Jeff Ennis: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport how many fines for the non-payment of television licences have been imposed in (a) Barnsley and (b) Doncaster in each of the last five years.

James Purnell: Information on fines for unlicensed use of a television receiver is not recorded separately from other offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 and the Communications Act 2003, although the majority of offences under these acts are likely to relate to television licence evasion. The number of offenders receiving fines for all offences under the above Acts in the Barnsley district magistrates court and Doncaster magistrates' court, for each of the last five years for which information is available, was:
	
		
			   Number 
			  Barnsley district magistrates court Doncaster magistrates court 
		
		
			 2000 571 567 
			 2001 420 381 
			 2002 617 888 
			 2003 251 362 
			 2004 328 423

TRADE AND INDUSTRY

Annual Leave

Ashok Kumar: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what research he has commissioned on the average number of days of paid annual leave taken by low-skilled workers.

Gerry Sutcliffe: The Government asked the Low Pay Commission to consider the impact of extending annual leave entitlements. The following table from their annual report for 2005 shows the paid leave entitlement for low-paid working age employees in autumn 2003.
	
		Paid leave entitlement (excluding bank holidays) for low-paid working age employees by hours, autumn 2003
		
			 Percentage 
			 Paid leave entitlement Part-time Full-time All 
		
		
			 Fewer than 10 days 41.1 6.8 24.4 
			 10 to fewer than 12 days 4.2 3.4 3.8 
			 12 to fewer than 20 days 18.2 14.0 16.1 
			 20 days or more 36.6 75.8 55.7 
		
	
	Source:
	Labour Force Survey, ONS Autumn 2003.

Departmental Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in London Headquarters in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each year.

Alan Johnson: The Department is unable to identify separately widescreen televisions purchased from expenditure on other electrical audio-visual equipment such as flatscreen displays or traditional cathode ray tube TVs.

Departmental Sickness Absence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days sick leave on average staff in his Department have taken in each of the last five years; and what percentage of total working days this represented in each year.

Alan Johnson: The following sets out average sick absence in the DTI HQ (including Small Business Service) in each of the last five years; and percentage of total working days this represented in each year. All data include weekends and public and privilege holidays; and therefore based on working year of 335 days.
	
		
			  Headcount Full-time equivalent 
			  Average days Percentage of total working days Average days Percentage of total working days 
		
		
			 2005 5.7 1.72 5.9 1.77 
			 2004 8.0 2.39 8.2 2.46 
			 2003 7.0 2.09 7.2 2.16 
			 2002 7.0 2.08 7.2 2.13 
			 2001 6.7 2.01 6.9 2.07

Departmental Staff (Castle Point)

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many staff employed by his Department live in Castle Point.

Alan Johnson: Ten staff from the Department of Trade and Industry and its agencies have given their home address as being in Castle Point.

Equal Opportunities (Funding)

Julie Morgan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what factors he took into account in deciding on the level of funding to be allocated to (a) the Commission for Racial Equality, (b) the Disability Rights Commission and (c) the Equal Opportunities Commission.

Meg Munn: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The information is as follows.
	(a) The Commission for Racial Equality is funded by the Home Office.
	(b) The Disability Rights Commission is funded by the Department for Work and Pensions.
	(c) My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry decides the level of funding for the Equal Opportunities Commission in accordance with agreed business plans.

EU Accounts Modernisation Directive

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is taking to inform businesses of their requirements under the EU Accounts Modernisation Directive.

Alun Michael: holding answer 31 January 2006
	Regulations implementing the bulk of the EU Accounts Modernisation Directive were made in November 2004. Guidance for companies on the effect of the amendments was placed on the DTI website prior to that date. Regulations implementing the requirement of the Directive to produce a Business Review and introducing the Operating and Financial Review were made in March 2005. Guidance covering both aspects of the 2005 regulations was placed on the DTI website prior to that date. Following a decision not to proceed with the Operating and Financial Review the guidance has now been updated to relate solely to the Business Review and consultation is under way about what changes to the Businesses Review is needed as a consequence.

European Public Procurement Law

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions his Department has had with the European Commission concerning the impact of European public procurement law on the costs to small and medium-sized enterprises in the UK of bidding for public contracts.

Alan Johnson: holding answer 9 January 2006
	The UK played an active role in the negotiations on proposals from the European Commission regarding the two new European public procurement directives which were implemented on 31 January 2006. DTI was involved in that process where SME's interests were taken into account. These new directives, which replace existing EU rules on public procurement, will help to improve the procurement process for suppliers, including SMEs, and contracting authorities through their greater clarity and the scope they provide to take account of modern procurement methods and systems.

Foreign Farm Workers

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department is taking to ensure that foreign farm workers working in the United Kingdom are paid above the national minimum wage.

Jim Knight: I have been asked to reply.
	Any person employed to work in agriculture, anywhere in England and Wales, is entitled to be paid at least the appropriate agricultural minimum wage rate set out in the Agricultural Wages Order. This includes all foreign nationals legally entitled to work in the United Kingdom. The Agricultural Wages Order is enforced by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs in England and the National Assembly for Wales Agriculture Department in Wales. If a worker considers s/he might have been underpaid they should contact the Agricultural Wages Team on 0845 000 01 34 and they will arrange for the matter to be investigated.

Gas Supplies

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the dates on which his Department had discussions with (a) Ofgem, (b) Energywatch and (c) gas supply companies regarding erroneous transfers of customers' gas supplies to other suppliers.

Malcolm Wicks: The Department has extensive contact with Ofgem, Energywatch and gas and electricity suppliers about a range of aspects of domestic gas and electricity supply, including erroneous transfers. DTI, Ofgem and Energywatch have been closely involved in the suppliers' Customer Transfer Programme, which began in June 2003. This is a very substantial project that is designed to improve all aspects of the switching process, including reducing erroneous transfers. Such transfers have already fallen significantly. In 2005 there were around 110 complaints per month about erroneous transfers of gas supply. In the same period, gas transfers were running at an average of 300,000 per month. This compares with 150 complaints per month in 2004, and 290 per month in 2003. I expect complaints about erroneous transfers to decline still further once the Customer Transfer Programme is completed in March 2006.

National Weights and Measures Laboratory

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what the national targets are for the National Weights and Measures Laboratory; and what the performance has been of relevant offices in Devon and Cornwall in relation to those targets.

Alan Johnson: The National Weights and Measures Laboratory targets approved by DTI Ministers for 2005–06 are:
	To report a break even in the Income and Expenditure Account for 2005–06.
	To satisfy all its customers as demonstrated by at least 95 per cent. of them reporting that they are satisfied or very satisfied with NWML's provision of services.
	To complete all Type Approval work (new patterns, variants, amendments, renewals, additions, Test Certificates, and OIML Certificate of Conformity) within 10 weeks (45 working days).
	In respect of European approvals (new patterns only) to achieve an average time per job of better than five weeks (23 working days).
	In respect of UK approvals (new patterns only) to achieve an average time per job of better than seven weeks (32 working days).
	To complete calibration jobs within the time requested by customers, with at least 95 per cent. of all jobs (including preparation of certificates) completed within 18 working days of acceptance of the work and an average completion time of less than 13 working days.
	To complete 85 per cent. of the milestones scheduled for year 1 of the National Measurement System (NMS) Legal Metrology Programme by their due dates.
	In respect of approved verification to complete the evaluation of the application and supporting Quality documentation within 30 working days (six weeks) of receipt for at least 80 per cent. of applications.
	To complete implementation of the MID by 30 October 2006 (interim target to submit all requisite draft regulations to the European Commission by 30 April 2006).
	Chief Executive to reply within 10 working days to all letters from Members of Parliament delegated to him for reply.
	To meet RoHS Regulations enforcement contract delivery targets by dates specified in the MoU with DTI.
	To meet savings and efficiency targets (financial and headcount) in the NWML Efficiency Delivery Plan.

Nuclear Energy

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which (a) power generation companies and (b) investment institutions have indicated a positive interest in (i) building and (ii) investing in new nuclear build.

Malcolm Wicks: Many companies regularly express interest publicly in a variety of energy infrastructure projects that relate to a number of different generating technologies, including nuclear, renewables, gas and carbon capture and storage.

Nuclear Energy

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of electricity used in the UK was produced from nuclear energy in the latest year for which figures are available.

Malcolm Wicks: In 2004, the latest full year for which data are available, 19 per cent. of the electricity supplied to customers in the UK was from nuclear sources.

Operating and Financial Review

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what impact assessment was made of the decision in November 2005 not to require listed companies to prepare Operating and Financial Review statements.

Alun Michael: The Government have decided to widen their current consultation on company narrative reporting requirements. This will ensure that all points of view and relevant up-to-date evidence are taken into account while the current Company Law Reform Bill is going through Parliament.
	The Government took the decision in November 2005 to repeal the mandatory requirement on quoted companies to prepare an Operating and Financial Review (OFR) as contained in the OFR regulations so that they are required to prepare a Business Review instead. This decision was made in the light of the Government's strong commitment to sustainable development, strategic forward-looking narrative reporting and its policy of not imposing unnecessary burdens on UK companies, and taking into account the large body of evidence from previous consultations on narrative reporting.
	Chapter 6 of Part 15 of the Company Law Reform Bill contains provisions relating to narrative reporting by companies. The Government are now inviting comments on any considerations which Ministers should take into account in deciding whether, and if so how, to frame amendments to these or other provisions of the Company Law Reform Bill to ensure effective forward looking narrative reporting by quoted companies, including, where appropriate, on social, community, employee and environmental matters. The consultation is therefore extended to invite views from all stakeholders on the full range of options for reporting, including matters previously contained within Schedule 7ZA of the Companies Act 1985 and within the Accounts Modernisation Directive (2003/51/EC), and any other matters relevant to narrative reporting.
	The Government will also consider in light of responses to this consultation whether existing business reporting requirements should be amended by regulations under secondary legislation as an interim measure before the new Bill comes into force. For the avoidance of doubt, however, no such changes would apply to financial reporting periods which had commenced before any new regulations had been passed. This is to ensure that companies have certainty as to their current legal reporting obligations and have adequate time to prepare for any changes.
	The closing date for responses to this consultation is 24 March 2006. The Government are keen to ensure conclusions can be reached in a time scale which allows any resulting policy changes to be introduced and debated during the appropriate parliamentary stages of the current Bill.
	The Government have already issued an invitation for views on narrative reporting on a more limited basis (my statement of 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 177WS). Comments already received as a result of that invitation will be taken into account in this wider consultation exercise. Those who have already expressed a view are welcome to submit further comments should they so wish.

Company Law

Mark Lazarowicz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he intends to ensure that companies meet their social, environmental and community responsibilities in his review of company law; and if he will make a statement.

Alun Michael: The Company Law Reform Bill is part of a wider programme of Government and market-led reform to support enterprise, encourage investment and promote long-term performance in order to ensure that Britain remains one of the best places in the world to set up and run a business.
	A key part of the Bill is the statutory statement of directors' duties. This will provide greater clarity on what is expected of directors. It will also recognise in statute that business prosperity and responsible business behaviour are two sides of the same coin: directors are required to promote the success of the company in the collective best interests of shareholders, having regard to wider factors such as the interests of employees, the community and the environment. Re-stating this requirement will help directors to understand that they need to look beyond the short-term financial bottom line, but company law is not the right vehicle for addressing specific social, environmental or community issues.

Company Law

Jonathan Djanogly: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what cost-savings he expects to result from the Company Law Reform Bill when enacted.

Alun Michael: The Government's Regulatory Impact Assessment for the Company Law Reform Bill, presents an estimated range for the total direct benefits that are expected to result from provisions in the Bill. This range is £160 million to £340 million per year. Details are available at http:www.dti.gov.uk/cld/pdfs/clrbria.pdf

Parliamentary Questions

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he will reply to question number 39575, tabled by the hon. Member for Westmoreland and Lonsdale on 19 December 2005; and what the reasons are for the delay in replying.

Alan Johnson: I have answered the hon. Member's question today. I apologise to the hon. Member for the delay in responding.

Post Office

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will place in the Library a copy of the report received from Post Office Ltd on pilot schemes for innovative ways of providing a service.

Barry Gardiner: We have very recently received the analysis we requested from the Post Office on pilot studies trialling new models of service delivery. We are viewing this and will encourage the Post Office to draw it together into a report for publication.

Power Generation

Charles Hendry: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment he has made of the number of new electricity generators which may be required to take account of (a) the decline in energy generated by existing power stations that will come to the end of their working lives over the next decade and (b) an increase in demand of (i) 20 per cent., (ii) 30 per cent. and (iii) 40 per cent. over the next decade.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 30 January 2006
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State's first Annual Report on Security of Supply lists planned major new electricity projects (www.dti.gov.uk/energy/publications/policy/sec_supply_first_report.pdf). This will be updated in the next report of the Joint Energy Security of Supply Working Group, which will also consider the position on electricity supply and demand over the next decade. The report will be published shortly.

Race Equality Impact Assessments

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many Race Equality Impact Assessments his Department had completed in (a) April 2004 to March 2005 and (b) April 2005 to November 2005; and how many assessments in each period resulted in a change of policy.

Meg Munn: The DTI has completed three Race Equality Impact Assessments (REIA) since April 2004. In one case, the assessment of the impact on race equality recorded in the REIA reflected the considerable changes made to the original proposals to mitigate potential adverse effects. In the other two, the REIAs did not result in a change of policy. The DTI is reviewing its Race Equality Scheme, including an analysis of completed Race Equality Impact Assessments, with a view to publishing a revised, more effective scheme by June 2006.

Radioactive Waste

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the countries from which (a) radioactive waste and (b) spent fuel has been received but not yet returned; and what the (i) radioactivity level and (ii) quantity held is in each case.

Malcolm Wicks: holding answer 26 January 2006
	The UK does not allow the import of radioactive waste, but overseas spent fuel is received in the UK for reprocessing.
	Sellafield
	Spent fuel has been received for reprocessing at Sellafield from these countries: Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and the Netherlands. To date no waste as a result of reprocessing has been returned overseas.
	Details of fuel deliveries and the programming of reprocessing of customer's fuel are operational and commercial matters for British Nuclear Group and its customers, but the total amount of foreign spent fuel to be reprocessed under new reprocessing contracts signed since 1976 is around 4,500 tonnes, which will result in 400, 5,000 and 25,000 cubic metres of High, Intermediate and Low Level Waste respectively.
	Non-Sellafield sources
	Countries from which spent fuel has been received but not yet returned:
	
		
			 Country Kg HM 
		
		
			 Belgium 13.9 
			 Denmark 54.3 
			 France 115.8 
			 Germany 582.6 
			 Holland 5.9 
			 Georgia 4.4 
		
	
	Waste return clauses are in force for the above material, excluding Georgia.
	It is not possible to give current radioactivity levels for this material as the levels on receipt would be considerably different from those today. To attempt to calculate notional radioactivity levels from the above weights could give an erroneous result.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the costs to be borne by his Department resulting from the delay in implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: I refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave on 23 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1764–65W.

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive

Alan Duncan: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the extra costs to be borne by manufacturers resulting from uncertainty caused by the delay in implementing the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Directive.

Malcolm Wicks: The delay to implementation of the Directive will mean savings for many manufacturers. These are likely to exceed significantly any costs arising from the delay.

TRANSPORT

Channel Tunnel

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  whether he has made an assessment of the impact of the channel tunnel on the level of traffic on UK roads; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  whether he has made an assessment of the net impact of the channel tunnel on the UK economy; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The Department has not made any specific assessment of the effect of the channel tunnel on UK road traffic levels or the UK economy more generally.

Christmas Cards

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will estimate the cost to his Department of sending Christmas cards in 2005.

Karen Buck: The information requested is set out as follows.
	
		Christmas card 2005
		
			  Cost including VAT (£) 
		
		
			 Central Department 1,780 
			 Highways Agency 2,488 
			 Maritime and Coastguard Agency 1,769 
			 Vehicle and Operator Services Agency 664 
			 Vehicle Certification Agency  
			 Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency 2,981 
			 Driving Standards Agency 3,213 
			 Government Car and Despatch Agency (7)— 
		
	
	(7) No card.
	Note:
	The information refers to the cost of the cards. It is not possible to separate out postage costs from normal mail, although the policy is to mainly use second class.

Concessionary Travel

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what assessment he has made of the adequacy of the funding provided in the 2006–07 local government finance settlement to (a) West Berkshire council and (b) other local authorities to provide free bus passes for all those who are entitled to them;
	(2)  what estimate he has made of whether (a) West Berkshire council and (b) other local authorities will require additional funding above that provided in the local government finance settlement to finance the free bus pass scheme; and what assessment he has made of sources of additional funding.

Karen Buck: The Government are providing an extra £350 million for 2006–07 through the formula grant system which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities. There is general agreement that there is enough additional money overall for the local authorities. The extra funding is not ring-fenced; therefore it is not possible to identify the concessionary fares funding for individual local authorities. All local authorities, including West Berkshire council, have a responsibility to offer older and disabled people free off-peak local travel on buses and we expect this to be done in an efficient and effective way, balancing all the available resources.

Concessionary Travel

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the payments to bus operators by (a) West Berkshire council and (b) other local authorities in England under the free bus pass scheme; and what percentage of the payments in (i) West Berkshire and (b) England will be met from central Government grant in 2006–07.

Karen Buck: None. The Department for Transport has issued guidance to local authorities on implementation but it is for individual concessionary travel authorities, to design and operate their local concessionary fares scheme. The Government are providing an extra £350 million for 2006–07 which will be sufficient to fund the cost to local authorities of the introduction of free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people.

Concessionary Travel

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities in the County of Durham which have received funding to introduce the concessionary travel scheme; and how much was paid to each.

Karen Buck: All the districts in the County of Durham receive funding for concessionary fares through the formula grant system. The extra funding is not ring-fenced; therefore it is not possible to identify the current funding for concessionary fares for individual local authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consulted on the formula to be used for funding the extension to free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people from 1 April. The funding will continue to not be specifically allocated.

Concessionary Travel

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of extending the concessionary travel scheme for aged and disabled people in Easington to include cross boundary travel to Tyne Wear and Teesside.

Karen Buck: None. Cross-boundary concessionary travel is offered at the discretion of the local authority based on their judgement of local needs and their overall financial priorities.

Departmental Expenditure

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the annual expenditure on vehicles by (a) his Department and (b) each (i) non-departmental public body, (ii) executive agency and (iii) other public body for which he is responsible in (A) Scotland, (B) Wales, (C) each of the English regions and (D) Northern Ireland was in each of the last three financial years; and what the planned expenditure is for 2005–06.

Karen Buck: Information on actual and projected spend on vehicles has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The expenditure data typically comprises purchase price, fuel and servicing. Charges relating to the specialist nature of the Department for Transport fleet, such as adaptations, have also been included in some cases.
	The information requested as iii) a), b), c) and d can only be provided at disproportionate costs.
	For details of expenditure on ministerial vehicles provided to the Department by the Government Car and Despatch Agency I refer the hon. Member to the letter of 20 December 2005 from the chief executive of the Government Car and Despatch Agency to the hon. Member for Lewes (Norman Baker). Copies of this letter are available in the Library.

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Karen Buck: The total cost of the Department for Transport's main website at:
	www.dft.gov.uk for the financial year 2004–05 was £290,035. This cost includes hosting, maintenance and development. It does not include staff costs.
	
		Unique visitors to the Department for Transport website—2005
		
			  Unique visitors 
		
		
			 January 117,333 
			 February 117,722 
			 March 134,296 
			 April 134,561 
			 May 125,765 
			 June 122,320 
			 July 112,853 
			 August 136,300 
			 September 127,740 
			 October 125,336 
			 November 137,404 
			 December 115,945 
			 Total 1,507,575 
		
	
	In the period of the last financial year (2004–05) the total number of unique visitors was 1,302,712 with a total number of visits of 2,842,657. The cost per visit over the same period was therefore 0.1 pence.

Highways Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State forTransport what the administration costs are of theHighways Agency to date in the financial year 2005–06.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency's administration costs to 31 December 2005 in the financial year 2005–06 are £70,166,841. This figure includes salary costs.

Lockerbie Station

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether the footbridge at Lockerbie railway station is being considered for funding under the Railways for All scheme.

Karen Buck: Decisions on Railways for All funding relating to stations in Scotland will be a matter for Scottish Ministers and we are working closely with Transport Scotland, the new national transport agency. We propose to publish shortly the final Railways for All strategy, which will include details of how the funding will be targeted.

Lockerbie Station

David Mundell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what account is taken of the needs of users at Lockerbie railway station when timetabling for cross-border rail services.

Derek Twigg: Cross Country is the main operator of cross border rail services at Lockerbie railway station at present. The specification for the new Cross Country franchise is currently being developed and the needs of Lockerbie will be one of the factors to be taken into account. We expect to consult on the specification in the summer of 2006.

London Commuter Services

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which commuting service into London had the highest passengers in excess of capacity level in the last year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: In 2004, which is the last year for which data are available, the London commuting services with the highest passenger in excess of capacity were:
	
		
			 Time From To Train operator Arrive Train capacity Passengers PIXC 
		
		
			 07:40 Ashford London Victoria South Eastern Trains 09:28 266 466 200 
			 18:09 London Bridge Beckenham Junction Southern 18:44 205 286 81 
			 17:50 London Bridge Rochester South Eastern Trains 18:51 420 586 166 
		
	
	Since the data were collected, both Southern and South Eastern Trains have introduced new rolling stock on these services which provides greater passenger capacity.

London Underground

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will meet the Mayor of London and raise the renegotiation of the public-private partnership deal for the London Underground; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: I refer the hon. Member to my previous answer of 28 November 2005, Official Report, column 144W.

Off-peak Bus Travel

James Clappison: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to the answer of 26 January, PQ 44701, if he will break down the figure of £350 million for the provision of off-peak bus travel into main cost areas and provide the assumptions which underlay the calculation of each such area.

Karen Buck: The £350 million was based on analysis which estimated the overall costs, in 2002–03 prices, at £250 million of moving from existing provision. An additional £100 million was added to allow for the reimbursement of authorities already offering free off-peak local bus travel (e.g. London, Merseytravel and Centro (the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive), inflation, and to act as a contingency for the uncertainty of the additional take-up.

Pedestrian Rail Crossings

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport 
	(1)  what recent representations he has received on the safety of pedestrian rail crossings;
	(2)  if he will visit Benfleet railway station in Essex to assess the safety of the two unmanned pedestrian crossings in its vicinity;
	(3)  if he will undertake a review of the safety of unmanned pedestrian railway crossings; and if he will make a statement;
	(4)  if he will make it his policy to facilitate and speed up the closure of little-used unmanned pedestrian foot crossings of railway lines.

Derek Twigg: The Department receives correspondence on a range of issues including, safety at individual level crossings.
	I meet the health and safety executive's an a regular basis to review safety issues including level crossing safety. I have at present no plans to visit Benfleet station. It is for HSE's HM Railways Inspectorate (HMRI) to assess whether Network Rail is controlling the risks at the two un-staffed pedestrian crossings at Benfleet station. I have asked the appropriate HMRI representative to contact the hon. Member to see how best to deal with your concerns.
	Network Rail seeks to close crossings where viable alternatives exist which are acceptable to local residents and crossing users. Level crossing safety is governed by a legislative framework that facilitates the efficient management of level crossing risk and includes powers to ensure adequate protective measures are put in place. As part of this legislative framework, HSE's HM Railways Inspectorate, on behalf of the Secretary of State ensure on a case-by-case basis that individual level crossings are compliant with the legislation and thereby ensure that essential safety standards are being met.

Public Transport (Government Grants)

John Grogan: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how much in Government grants was allocated for subsidies to public transport per head of population in (a) West Yorkshire, (b) South Yorkshire and (c) North Yorkshire in 2005–06.

Karen Buck: The following grant per head of population was allocated in 2005–06:
	
		
			  £ 
		
		
			 (a) West Yorkshire 17.40 
			 (b) South Yorkshire 29.68 
			 (c) North Yorkshire 18.40 
		
	
	These figures include integrated transport block funding and major public transport scheme funding allocated through the Local Transport capital settlement, and expected spend on Department for Transport bus grants (Rural Bus Subsidy Grant and Bus Challenge). Figures can vary year on year, particularly on the amount allocated to major transport schemes.
	The figures do not include local authority spend on public transport subsidy funded from Revenue Support Grant (that spend is not allocated by Government for use particularly on transport) or payments made direct to operators of Bus Service Operators Grant (that is not allocated on a geographical basis).
	The figures do not include funding allocated for rail. Central Government supports rail services in the north of England through direct franchise payments (subsidies) to the Train Operating Companies (TOCs), but these allocations are not available on a local authority area basis. Further payments are also made to PTEs for the specific provision of rail services in their respective areas, but the total subsidy figures will not be known until the end of 2005–06.

Railways

Stephen Hammond: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people were employed by the Strategic Rail Authority; and how many were employed in a (a) technical or advisory capacity and (b) administrative posts.

Derek Twigg: As at 1 April 2005 the number of people employed by the Strategic Rail Authority was 409. A breakdown of this number is not available in the form requested.
	As at 1 February 2006 the total number of people employed by the Strategic Rail Authority is 24. These remaining staff will be employed on issues affecting South East Trains and in carrying out work to enable the authority to be wound down later this year.

Railways

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the change in the number of passenger kilometres travelled on the railways between London and Shrewsbury in each of the last five years.

Derek Twigg: Passenger miles travelled between London and Shrewsbury in the last five years, and the annual percentage change, are as follows:
	
		
			  Passenger miles (millions) Percentage change on previous year 
		
		
			 2001–02 9.4 — 
			 2002–03 9.1 -3.78 
			 2003–04 8.9 -1.32 
			 2004–05 8.6 -3.21 
			 2005–06 9.1 +4.82 
		
	
	Note:
	For 2005–06, figures are available only for the period from April to January. To allow a proper comparison to be made, figures for other years also relate to the April to January period.

Railways

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many people have been caught travelling on the railway without a ticket in each year since 1997; how many were (a) prosecuted and (b) convicted; and if he will make a statement.

Derek Twigg: The Department does not hold this information as revenue protection is a matter for train operators.

Road Gritting

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what funding the Government have provided to local authorities for the gritting of roads in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Karen Buck: Funding for routine highway and street lighting maintenance, including gritting, is provided to local authorities through the Revenue Support Grant, which is not ring-fenced to specific services.

Stonehenge

Robert Key: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if Ministers or officials in his Department have discussed with the National Trust proposals from consultants for a new northern corridor route for the proposed A303 Stonehenge road improvement.

Stephen Ladyman: The National Trust wrote to the Department on 22 December 2005 setting out their views on the A303 Stonehenge improvement scheme review, including a suggestion for a specific northern route option. Officials will be meeting the National Trust to discuss this and other issues.

Road Maintenance

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what estimate he has made of the cost of outstanding maintenance on roads for which his Department is responsible.

Stephen Ladyman: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given him today [UIN 40579].

Safe and Efficient Drivers Scheme

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what research and consultation his Department undertook before the launch of the Safe and Efficient Drivers Scheme.

Stephen Ladyman: holding answer 31 January 2006
	The Safe and Fuel Efficient Driving (SAFED) Scheme has been highly successful in the truck sector. The Department undertook research in 2005 to study the van sector, to adapt and develop the existing scheme to be appropriate for vans and to pilot the training course to determine how effective it would be. The results were published on our website on 25 January 2006. A key stakeholder advisory group was formed to advise and steer this pilot project.
	There was no formal public consultation on the scheme, though the stakeholder advisory group were key to developing the scheme and views on the concept were sought from the Road Haulage Forum. While the Government routinely consults on regulatory proposals, it should be stressed that this is not new regulation. There is no requirement on van drivers to undertake this training.

Safety/Speed Cameras

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how the composition of the executive or boards of safety camera partnerships is determined.

Stephen Ladyman: Governance arrangements for safety camera partnerships are set out in the Handbook of Rules and Guidance for the National Safety Camera Programme for England and Wales, copies of which are available in the Libraries of the House. All safety camera partnerships are required to have a steering group made up of senior representatives from each of the partners.

Safety/Speed Cameras

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the (a) locations and (b) roads concerned where fixed cameras are (i) in place and (ii) will be in place by 31 December for the purpose of monitoring vehicles for offences other than speeding.

Stephen Ladyman: The Department holds this information only in respect of red light cameras within the national safety camera programme. This is contained in a table that has been placed in the Library of the House. The information is correct as at 31 December 2005.

Strategic Road Network

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether there is a backlog of maintenance to be undertaken on the strategic road network.

Stephen Ladyman: The strategic road network of trunk roads and motorways in England is maintained in a safe and serviceable condition on a whole life cost principle, identifying the appropriate maintenance treatment at the optimum intervention time. This ensures the best use of available resources and minimizes the impact on road users. There is currently no backlog of carriageway maintenance on the strategic network and consequently no estimate for outstanding works.

Sussex-London Rail Service

Nigel Waterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will make a statement on the prospects for a fast rail service between the Sussex coast and London.

Derek Twigg: Rail services between the Sussex coast and London are the responsibility of Southern as the incumbent franchisee. Changes to services can be proposed by the franchisee subject to the requirements of the Franchise Agreement and Network Rail approval.
	Some changes to services between London and the Sussex coast are proposed in the Brighton Mainline Route Utilisation Strategy (BML RUS). A decision and announcement about publication of the BML RUS is likely to be made shortly.

Traffic (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what his projections are for traffic growth in Hammersmith and Fulham for each of the next 10 years.

Karen Buck: The Mayor has overall responsibility for transport in the capital (with the exception of trains). The Mayor is also responsible for providing a transport strategy which sets out proposals for improving transport in London and sets targets for traffic levels in London. The target for Hammersmith and Fulham is for traffic in 2011 to fall by 2 per cent. (relative to 2001 levels).
	Further information on the Mayor's Transport Strategy can be found at http://www.london.gov.uk/approot/mayor/strategies/transport/index.jsp.

Train Operating Companies

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport pursuant to his answer of 20 December 2005, Official Report, column 2913W, on C2C/One Rail, if he will provide the same breakdown for all train operating companies.

Derek Twigg: The following table shows the number of cancellations, and the reasons for them, for the 20 additional Train Operating Companies with which the Department has franchise agreements.
	
		2005 train cancellations
		
			   Train operating company 
			 Causation Summary ATW Central Chiltern FGW FGW Link 
		
		
			 Depot-related Shunting incident, train preparation 364 53 — — 2 
			 Operation Planning error, service recovery plan, traded services specifically 4 425 41 16 — 
			 Train crew Lack of driver/Train manager 2,139 2,668 138 33 439 
			 Fleet Technical faults 4,593 6,109 542 295 537 
			 Station Retail related 650 133 164 — — 
			 External Weather, fatality 406 478 — 25 619 
			 Miscellaneous TOC-on-Self — — — — — 
			 TOC-on-TOC Effect of other operators 412 925 88 16 266 
			 Infrastructure Points Failures 382 — — 10 — 
			 Infrastructure Poor Condition of Track/Broken Rail 197 — — 4 — 
			 Infrastructure Miscellaneous 1,171 — — 120 — 
			 Infrastructure Overhead Power Supply/Line 9 — — — — 
			 Infrastructure Level Crossing Failure — — — — — 
			 Infrastructure Signal Failure 106 — — 12 — 
			 Infrastructure Animals on line — — — — — 
			 Production Network Rail — — — 5 — 
			 Production Train Planning 1 — — — — 
			 Engineering Track Engineering Possessions 88 — — — — 
			 Operations Network Rail- — — 856 — — 
			 Operations Fatalities 94 — — 58 — 
			 Operations Line Side Fires 4 — — 1 — 
			 Act of God Weather 227 — — 2 — 
			 Infrastructure Network Rail 51 5,560 398 46 727 
			 LUL Sharing of track with London Underground — — 109 — — 
			 Miscellaneous 7/7 Bombings — — — — — 
			 Total  10,898 16,351 2,336 643 2,590 
		
	
	
		
			   Train operating company 
			 Causation Summary Gatwick GNER Island Line MML Northern 
		
		
			 Depot-related Shunting incident, train preparation — 5 — 41 404 
			 Operation Planning error, service recovery plan, traded services specifically — 4 — 14 743 
			 Train crew Lack of driver/Train manager 12 6 3 36 484 
			 Fleet Technical faults 165 225 18 205 4,353 
			 Station Retail related — 1 — 2 205 
			 External Weather, fatality 187 20 6 59 390 
			 Miscellaneous TOC-on-Self — — — — — 
			 TOC-on-TOC Effect of other operators 47 15 — 69 788 
			 Infrastructure Points Failures 3 7 — — 628 
			 Infrastructure Poor Condition of Track/Broken Rail 34 — — — 939 
			 Infrastructure Miscellaneous 102 11 — — 479 
			 Infrastructure Overhead Power Supply/Line — 68 — — 337 
			 Infrastructure Level Crossing Failure — — — — — 
			 Infrastructure Signal Failure 49 12 2 — 75 
			 Infrastructure Animals on line — — — — — 
			 Production Network Rail 4 37 17 — 239 
			 Production Train Planning — — — — 21 
			 Engineering Track Engineering Possessions 2,552 5 — — 244 
			 Operations Network Rail- — — — — 32 
			 Operations Fatalities — 34 — — 330 
			 Operations Line Side Fires — 54 — — 14 
			 Act of God Weather — 31 17 — 2,179 
			 Infrastructure Network Rail — — — 773 — 
			 LUL Sharing of track with London Underground — — — — — 
			 Miscellaneous 7/7 Bombings — 86 — — — 
			 Total  3,155 621 63 1,199 12,884 
		
	
	
		
			   Train operating company 
			 Causation Summary SET Silverlink Southern SWT Thameslink 
		
		
			 Depot-related Shunting incident, train preparation — 70 182 34 155 
			 Operation Planning error, service recovery plan, traded services specifically — 62 28 729 163 
			 Train crew Lack of driver/Train manager 2,243 753 459 808 311 
			 Fleet Technical faults 864 1,906 2,629 378 2,549 
			 Station Retail related — 44 21 2 101 
			 External Weather, fatality — 614 383 439 1,321 
			 Miscellaneous TOC-on-Self 3,186 — 102 491 — 
			 TOC-on-TOC Effect of other operators — 354 88 66 148 
			 Infrastructure Points Failures — — 108 101 — 
			 Infrastructure Poor Condition of Track/Broken Rail — — 73 166 — 
			 Infrastructure Miscellaneous — — 228 786 — 
			 Infrastructure Overhead Power Supply/Line — — 95 — — 
			 Infrastructure Level Crossing Failure — — — — — 
			 Infrastructure Signal Failure — — 98 29 — 
			 Infrastructure Animals on line — — — — — 
			 Production Network Rail — — 220 40 1,049 
			 Production Train Planning — — 147 91 — 
			 Engineering Track Engineering Possessions — — 84 70 249 
			 Operations Network Rail- — — — — — 
			 Operations Fatalities — — 295 7 — 
			 Operations Line Side Fires — — 214 — — 
			 Act of God Weather — — 242 — — 
			 Infrastructure Network Rail 82 2,515 359 410 1,726 
			 LUL Sharing of track with London Underground — — — — — 
			 Miscellaneous 7/7 Bombings — — — — — 
			 Total  6,375 6,318 6,055 4,647 7,772 
		
	
	
		
			   Train operating company 
			 Causation Summary TPE VWG VXC(8) WAGN Wessex 
		
		
			 Depot-related Shunting incident, train preparation 29 11 20 14 142 
			 Operation Planning error, service recovery plan, traded services specifically 270 9 122 16 56 
			 Train crew Lack of driver/Train manager 559 33 75 113 192 
			 Fleet Technical faults 825 967 1,070 557 1,464 
			 Station Retail related 37 3 1 14 14 
			 External Weather, fatality 157  54 481 65 
			 Miscellaneous TOC-on-Self — — — — — 
			 TOC-on-TOC Effect of other operators 517 162 — 112 257 
			 Infrastructure Points Failures 147 44 37 — 115 
			 Infrastructure Poor Condition of Track/Broken Rail 187 21 43 265 94 
			 Infrastructure Miscellaneous 254 141 7 82 63 
			 Infrastructure Overhead Power Supply/Line 51 — 32 347 — 
			 Infrastructure Level Crossing Failure — 1 — — 3 
			 Infrastructure Signal Failure 25 7 69 294 43 
			 Infrastructure Animals on line — 16 — — 10 
			 Production Network Rail 210 12 22 — 42 
			 Production Train Planning 24 13 33 — 43 
			 Engineering Track Engineering Possessions 18 44 25 — 58 
			 Operations Network Rail- — 236 — — — 
			 Operations Fatalities 76 128 60 — 358 
			 Operations Line Side Fires 8 1 8 — 23 
			 Act of God Weather 169 50 114 — 44 
			 Infrastructure Network Rail 425 370 — 518 221 
			 LUL Sharing of track with London Underground — — — — — 
			 Miscellaneous 7/7 Bombings — — — — — 
			 Total  3,988 2,269 1,792 2,813 3,307 
		
	
	(8) Data for Virgin Cross Country is from 1 April to 11 December.
	Note:
	Data collated by individual TOCs against no set format.

Trams

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans he has for public investment in the (a) Sheffield Supertram, (b) Tyne and Wear Metro, (c) Manchester Metrolink and (e) West Midlands Metro.

Derek Twigg: The Department has received a bid from the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive for approval of Government funding for two proposed extensions to Sheffield Supertram. We are currently considering their proposals.
	In July 2005, Nexus Passenger Transport Executive submitted their 20-year strategy for capital reinvestment in the Tyne and Wear Metro. The Department is considering requests by Nexus for a contribution to development costs for the strategy.
	In regard to Manchester Metrolink, I refer the hon. Member to the Secretary of State for Transport's Statement to the House of 16 December 2004, Official Report, column 152WSJ.
	In 2000, the Department provisionally approved proposals promoted by Centre, the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, for two extensions to Midland Metro. In early 2006 the Department expects to receive an updated business case from the promoters for the scheme.
	In reaching decisions on these schemes we will also be taking into account advice from the English regions as part of the regional funding allocation prioritisation process.

Transport Security

Paul Rowen: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what representations he has received from (a) the Metropolitan Police Authority, (b) the Metropolitan police, (c) the Greater London authority and (d) the Mayor of London, with regard to (i) his Department's review of policing at airports and (ii) his Department's review of the British Transport police; and what plans he has to consult interested parties on these representations before taking final decisions on each review.

Karen Buck: The review of policing at airports is an independent review led by Stephen Boys Smith, jointly supported by the Department for Transport and the Home Office. The review team has written to all interested parties inviting submissions. In some cases, meetings will be held between the review team and the interested party.
	Following the Secretary of State's announcement of the BTP review, the Department's review team received representations from a number of organisations, including the Metropolitan Police Service and the London assembly. No representations were received from the Metropolitan Police Authority or the Mayor of London.
	The Secretary of State is now considering the initial findings of the review and the appropriate next steps.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Asylum Project (Peterborough)

Stewart Jackson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to provide further funding for the work undertaken in Peterborough under the auspices of the Invest to Save Asylum and Migration Project once the initial allocation has been spent; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: The Peterborough Asylum and Migration project is funded by the Treasury Invest to Save Budget, which provides initial financial backing to projects that demonstrate the capacity to achieve sustainability. The grant is limited for three years and no further allocation is planned after it expires. The Home Office works closely with the Asylum and Migration project to ensure that services currently delivered under the programme can in future be delivered by mainstream service providers as well the voluntary and community sector.

Bereket Yohannes

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the arrangements are for the investigation into the apparent suicide of Bereket Yohannes.

Tony McNulty: As Mr. Yohannes died while in immigration detention, Stephen Shaw, the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman, has been asked to investigate the incident and this is ongoing.
	The police are carrying out their own investigation and this is also ongoing.
	Mr. Yohannes' death will also be subject to an inquest and the Immigration and Nationality Directorate will co-operate fully with the Coroner's Office over this.

Channings Wood Prison

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners there areat HMP Channings Wood; how many of these are awaiting deportation; how long those awaiting deportation have been waiting; and to which country they are to be deported.

Fiona Mactaggart: As at 26 January there were 30 foreign national prisoners at Channings Wood prison. One prisoner is awaiting deportation to Jamaica, who would otherwise have expected to be released from prison custody on 24 December 2005. The prisoner in question is awaiting relevant travel documents.

Consultants

Martin Horwood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what mechanisms are in place to assess the effectiveness of consultant-led projects in his Department; what sanctions are available to penalise consultants who run unsuccessful projects; how many projects conducted by consultants were assessed as unsuccessful in each year since 2000; and what sanctions were imposed in each case.

Charles Clarke: The Home Office has published comprehensive internal guidance on actively managing contracts for the engagement of professional services. The guidance details that all Home Office contracts contain clear and explicit terms of reference for consultancies. It emphasises that trained and experienced contract managers are put in place to effect delivery by consultants of a cost effective service that meets contracted time scales, within budget and to laid down specifications. It requires a contract assessment report so that any important lessons and useful information about the performance of the contractor or individuals who provided the service are gained.
	Home Office standard contract terms provide that no payments are made until the Department is satisfied with outputs and there is additionally opportunity to take corrective action. If the Department remains dissatisfied, payment of received invoices can be withheld and if necessary the contract terminated. Additionally terms provide that the Department has sole entitlement to terminate the contract. The Department may also require the replacement, at no extra cost, of non-performing of consultants.
	The Department operates the Office of Government Commerce's Gateway review process to provide assurance at critical stages of a project's lifecycle, whether led by departmental staff or consultants. Additionally best practice governance and quality assurance procedures are applied to ensure delivery of all projects to defined costs, outputs and time scales.
	No records are held centrally of sanctions applied to consultants engaged on projects, and the information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Crime Prevention

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research he has commissioned on the effects on recidivism of the use of cautions for crimes of robbery.

Fiona Mactaggart: No research has been commissioned which directly addresses this issue.

Crime Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females were (i) prosecuted for and (ii) convicted of (A) murder and (B) manslaughter in England and Wales in 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: The available information from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for murder and manslaughter is contained in the table.
	Court statistics for 2005 will be available in the autumn 2006.
	
		Males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences of murder and manslaughter(9), England and Wales 2004
		
			 Number 
			  Murder Manslaughter2, 3 
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			  
			 Males 685 343 427 544 
			 Females 74 18 41 46 
		
	
	(9) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(10) Includes: manslaughter, child destruction, infanticide, causing death by dangerous driving, diminished responsibility and causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.
	(11) Found guilty figures may include those prosecutions for murder that were reduced to manslaughter.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of people have received 100 per cent. of a compensation award pursuant to section 13 of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme.

Fiona Mactaggart: The Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority advise that in 2004–05 there were 32,993 full awards and 2,418 reduced awards. All the reduced awards were reduced under paragraph 13E of the compensation scheme.

Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme

Vincent Cable: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what effect a Criminal Injuries Compensation award has on the payment of benefits to a claimant.

James Plaskitt: I have been asked to reply.
	Current income-support and jobseeker's allowance rules offer generous treatment to awards of compensation made to victims of violent crime. Our general policy is to allow injured people to safeguard their long-term financial position without losing benefit entitlement.
	The normal and most beneficial way for an injured person to handle a large payment of compensation is to place it in trust. The capital value of a trust is entirely disregarded, as are any payments from it, provided they are intended and used for items other than everyday living expenses, for example, the injured person's special needs. Even when used for everyday living expenses, payments are disregarded if they are no more than £20 per week.
	Following a recent review of the rules, a full disregard will apply to income derived from monies held in trust, as a consequence of a personal injury, from October 2006. This will align the income support and jobseeker's allowance rules with those in state pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit.
	In addition, a new grace period of 52 weeks will be introduced, during which any lump sum personal injury payment, can be automatically disregarded without needing to be placed in a trust fund at the outset.

Criminal Records Bureau

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to the Criminal Records Bureau are outstanding; and how many applications were outstanding in (a) September 2005, (b) June 2005 and (c) January 2005.

Andy Burnham: Information is not available to provide an answer in the specific format requested. However, during the 12 month period up to 31 December 2005, the average time for completion of all Enhanced Disclosures is 31.5 days, excluding any time an application has to be returned to a customer.
	On this basis, the average for the periods specified in the hon. Member's question are:
	In January 2005 it was 28.4 working days;
	In June 2005 it was 26.4 working days;
	In September 2005 it was 31.1 working days;
	As at 31 December 2005, the average time taken was 32.9 working days.
	These calculations include any time an application has to be returned to a customer and is not an accurate indication of the Bureau's performance, because Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has no means of controlling when such information may be provided by the customer.

Departmental Savings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what administrative savings have been made by his Department in each of the last eight years.

Charles Clarke: Value for money (VFM) improvements in administration contributes to the delivery of the Department's wider VFM targets. The 2004 Spending Review reclassified frontline operational costs for areas such as prison establishments and immigration case-working to Programme expenditure. This will enable a more effective focus in bearing down on headquarters and back-office overheads without damaging front-line delivery.
	As set out in the Home Office Targets Autumn Performance Report 2005 (Cm 6707), during 2004–05 the Home Office and the Police Service achieved overall VFM gains worth £845 million per annum of which £554 million was cashable. Of these, Headquarters reform contributed £32 million, all of which was cashable, an important contributor being the a reduction in Home Office headquarters headcount.

DNA Profiles

Grant Shapps: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to his answer of 16 January 2006, Official Report, columns 1111–2W, on DNA profiles, how many of the 24,000 DNA samples taken from children under 18 years who were never cautioned or charged were subsequently used successfully to prosecute a crime.

Andy Burnham: Information on the number of DNA profiles used successfully to prosecute a crime is not collected by the Home Office, but information is available on the number of such profiles which have been used to assist crime investigations. It has been established that to date 541 DNA profiles of the 24,168 DNA profiles taken from persons under 18 years who had not been charged or cautioned for an offence have subsequently been 'matched' to DNA recovered from unsolved crime scenes stored on the National DNA Database, providing the police with key intelligence leads on the possible identity of the offender and assisting crime investigation and detection.

Harmondsworth Detention Centre

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the procedures are for the delivery of private mail to detainees in Harmondsworth detention centre; and whether mail is read by centre staff.

Fiona Mactaggart: Post for detainees at Harmondsworth is received at the centre and the detainee's room number is noted on the top. It is then sorted into the relevant accommodation unit and distributed to the unit officer. Mail is opened by the detainees in front of the officer who ensures it contains nothing prohibited. Parcels are opened in the presence of the detainee in reception and any banned items are removed and placed in to sealed storage with the detainee present. A receipt is issued if items are retained.
	The following applies to all removal centres, not only at Harmondsworth.
	In accordance with Detention Centre Rule 27 (4), outgoing or incoming mail must not be opened, read or stopped unless there is reasonable cause to believe that its contents may endanger the security of the removal centre or the safety of others or are otherwise of a criminal nature or where it is not possible to determine the addressee or sender.
	Where the centre considers it necessary to open outgoing or incoming mail (for the reasons referred to above) they must advise the relevant detainee of the reason for doing so and give the opportunity for him/her to be present when it is being opened.
	The centre must keep a central record (i.e. not in individual case files) of every occasion where mail is opened, the reasons for doing so and whether the detainee was present.
	Where parcels are received for detainees, these must be opened by the detainee in the presence of centre staff. Where the items therein are not ones which the detainee can keep in his/her personal possession, he/she should be advised of the reason for this and informed that they will be held with his/her property held by the centre. The detainee must be given a receipt for the property and a record must be kept.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the cost to (a) each Department and (b) each citizen of the introduction of the national identity card scheme.

Andy Burnham: The Home Office has developed its current best estimate of the cost of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees and these costs have been incorporated into the business case.
	In deriving these estimates account has to be taken of current and planned levels of investment in similar or related technologies and the types of use required to support the particular services which the Home Office oversees. Not all services will require a high degree of integration between the ID cards scheme and other IT systems. For many, integration costs will be absorbed in the usual cycle of system upgrades and technology refresh. Therefore, these costs are not in our estimates and would be a matter for each department to consider based on their business case for using the scheme.
	We cannot release the detailed estimated costs for integrating IT systems within the Home Office and other Government Departments at this stage as these elements may be acquired from the market. The estimates are therefore commercially sensitive and to release them may prejudice the procurement process and the Department's ability to obtain value for money from potential suppliers.
	The current best estimates for the cost to the citizen were outlined in the regulatory impact assessment published on 25 May 2005. The current best estimate for the cost of a passport and ID card package is £93. In October 2005, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that a stand alone ID card for British citizens would cost £30.

Identity Cards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from (a) Christian, (b) Hindu, (c) Muslim and (d) Sikh communities in the West Midlands region on the proposed identity cards scheme.

Andy Burnham: The identity cards programme team has received no representations from individuals or communities identifying themselves as either Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Sikh and living in the West Midlands region.
	However, the special issues research conducted in October and November 2004, comprised a number of focus groups which included a group of Hindu females and a group of Sikh males from Birmingham. This issues raised from these particular groups was the concern that Sikh men would not have to remove their turbans in order to be enrolled on the ID card scheme. The group of Sikh men were also concerned that they might have to carry their ID card with them at all times. Both the Hindu female and Sikh male groups expressed views that the ID card was a positive idea as it would allow people to prove their identity and would assist if someone had a car accident for example. The Sikh male group also expressed a preference that staff working in the enrolment centres in areas of high ethnic minorities should be bi-lingual. The Hindu female group also expressed concerns that information on the Register might be 'sold' to private companies. The Identity Cards Bill which is currently before Parliament includes no such provision.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many full-time equivalents were employed to answer hon. Members' letters to the immigration and nationality directorate in each of the last five years.

Tony McNulty: The figures on 1 April in each year for full-time equivalent posts within the immigration and nationality directorate (IND) engaged in handling Members' correspondence were as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2005 276.9 
			 2004 229.5 
			 2003 170.0 
		
	
	These figures include both posts whose main role is drafting replies to Members' letters and those whose chief responsibilities relate to the administration of the correspondence handling process. They exclude, however, those posts in respect of which dealing with Members' correspondence represents only a minor part of the work. Because of organisational changes within IND it is not possible to provide comparable figures for 2002 and 2001.

Immigration and Nationality Directorate

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of letters addressed to the MPs' correspondence section of the immigration and nationality directorate between 6 May and 30 November 2005 had been replied to by 1 January 2006.

Tony McNulty: Of 16,140 Members' letters sent direct to the immigration and nationality directorate and received between 6 May and 30 November 2005, 13,455 (83 per cent.) were answered by 1 January this year.

IT Systems

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the answer of 24 January 2006, Official Report, column 2027W, on IT systems, when he expects the remaining probation areas to be connected to the prison OASys IT system; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Our intention is that all 42 probation areas will be connected to the Prison Service OASys IT system by the end of this financial year.

London Bombings

Adam Price: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether UK officials investigating the 7 July 2005 bombings have visited (a) Bosnia-Herzegovina, (b) Kosovo, (c) Albania and (d) Serbia-Montenegro as part of their investigations.

Charles Clarke: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The events of 7 July remain the subject of an ongoing police investigation and it is not the Government's policy to comment on specific operational details in such cases.

National Offender Management Service

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what (a) staff and (b) other resources have been allocated to each regional offender manager in the National Offender Management Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: Each Regional Offender Manager (ROM) is allowed to have up to eight members of staff, including the ROM. In recognition of their additional workload, the offices of the South East and Welsh ROMs have been allocated an additional post.
	The budget given to each Regional Offender Manager in the financial year 2005–06 ranges between £456,314 and £654,506. These figures are dependent on profiles reflecting the differing needs and requirements of each region, and cover staff and office management costs.

National Offender Management Service

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the regional offender managers within the National Offender Management Service; and when each was appointed to the post.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information is provided in the following table.
	
		
			 Name Date Location 
		
		
			 Steve Murphy 1 April 2005 London 
			 Sarah Payne 1 January 2005 South East 
			 Kevin Lockyer 2 December 2004 South West 
			 Trevor Williams 1 November 2004 East of England 
			 Linda Jones 5 December 2004 East Midlands 
			 Steve Goode 13 December 2004 West Midlands 
			 Carol Bernard 1 December 2004 Wales 
			 Paul Wilson 1 December 2004 Yorkshire and Humberside 
			 Liz Hill 1 April 2005 North West 
			 Mitch Egan 1 April 2005 North East

National Offender Management Service

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the prison establishments falling within the areas covered by each regional offender manager.

Fiona Mactaggart: A list of both public and contracted out prisons in each of the nine regions and Wales is in the following.
	North West:
	Altcourse
	Buckley Hall
	Forest Bank
	Garth
	Haverigg
	Hindley
	Kirkham
	Lancaster Castle
	Lancaster Farm
	Liverpool
	Manchester
	Preston
	Risley
	Styal
	Thorn Cross
	Wymott
	North East:
	Acklington
	Castington
	Deerbolt
	Durham
	Frankland
	Holme House
	Kirklevington Grange
	Low Newton
	Yorkshire and Humberside:
	Askham Grange
	Doncaster
	Everthorpe
	Full Sutton
	Hull
	Leeds
	Lindholme
	Moorland Closed
	Moorland Open
	New Hall
	Northallerton
	Wakefield
	Wealstun
	Wetherby
	Wolds
	East Midlands:
	Ashwell
	Foston Hall
	Gartree
	Glen Parva
	Leicester
	Lincoln
	Lowdham Grange
	Morton Hall
	North Sea Camp
	Nottingham
	Onley
	Ranby
	Rye Hill
	Stocken
	Sudbury
	Wellingborough
	Whatton
	East of England:
	Bedford
	Blundeston
	Bullwood Hall
	Chelmsford
	Edmunds Hill
	Highpoint
	Hollesley Bay
	Littlehey
	Norwich
	Peterborough
	The Mount
	Warren Hill
	Wayland
	Whitemoor
	West Midlands:
	Birmingham
	Blakenhurst
	Brinsford
	Brockhill
	Dovegate
	Drake Hall
	Featherstone
	Hewell Grange
	Long Lartin
	Shrewsbury
	Stafford
	Stoke Health
	Swinfen Hall
	Werrington
	South East:
	Albany
	Aylesbury
	Blantyre House
	Bronzefield
	Bullingdon
	Camp Hill
	Canterbury
	Coldingley
	Cookham Wood
	Downview
	East Sutton Park
	Elmley
	Ford
	Grendon
	Highdown
	Huntercombe
	Kingston
	Lewes
	Maidstone
	Parkhurst
	Rochester
	Send
	Spring Hill
	Standford Hill
	Swaleside
	Winchester
	Woodhill
	London:
	Belmarsh
	Brixton
	Feltham
	Holloway
	Latchmere House
	Pentonville
	Wandsworth
	Wormwood Scrubs
	South West:
	Bristol
	Channings Wood
	Dartmoor
	Dorchester
	Eastwood Park
	Erlestoke
	Exeter
	Gloucester
	Guys Marsh
	Leyhill
	Portland
	Shepton Mallet
	The Verne
	Wales:
	Cardiff
	Pare
	Swansea
	Usk/Prescoed

National Offender Management Service

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for theHome Department when the first assessment of theeffectiveness and value for money of regional offender managers is expected to be (a) made and (b) published.

Fiona Mactaggart: The effectiveness and value for money of the regional offender managers will be assessed against the target to deliver a five per cent. reduction in re-offending by adults and young offenders by 2007–08 compared to 2002–03, leading to a 10 per cent. reduction by the end of the decade. Statistics on reducing re-offending are published annually by the Home Office and report progress against the target on reducing re-offending.

National Offender Management Service

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether regional offender managers will commission prison places (a) from local governors, (b) from area managers and (c) across England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: Regional Offender Managers will commission prison places through Service Level Agreements (SLAs) with the public sector Prison Service at a regional level. SLA's will specify the total number of spaces commissioned in a region and include a breakdown by establishment. For contracted prisons, contracts specify the number of places provided by individual providers. The SLA for the High Security Estate will be between the National Offender Manager and the Director General of Her Majesty's Prison Service.

National Offender Management Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of (a) male and (b) female prisoners in England and Wales have re-offended since the introduction of the National Offender Management Service.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information requested is not available. To calculate the re-offending rate we need to consider criminal activity in the two year follow up period. The most recent figures are for the 2002 adult cohort and can be found on the Home Office's website (www.homeoffice.gov.uk/rds/pdfs05/hosb2505.pdf).

National Offender Management Service

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what formal training is provided for staff working in the National Offender Management Service prior to their contact with prisoners; and how much has been allocated for such training.

Fiona Mactaggart: Newly recruited prison officers participate in the eight-week prison officer entry level training programme. This year Her Majesty's Prison Service allocated £1,193,646 to provide 1,100 programme places through its central staff college. A further 1,100 places are provided through 12 establishment-based centres, but aggregate budget figures are not available and to collect them would incur disproportionate cost.
	The national probation service commissions a probation officer qualification scheme that leads to the Diploma in Probation Studies. The training for the qualification is work based, therefore a trainee probation officer may spend time on placement in a prison at different stages of the two year course. There are currently 1,340 trainee probation officers in the programme and the sum allocated for the training in 2005–06 is £51.4 million.

National Offender Management Service

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the latest projection is of the number of staff that each regional offender manager will require for each of the next three years.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 23 January 2006
	National Offender Management Service (NOMS) is currently considering the future resource requirements of regional offender mangers (ROMs) and until decisions have been made about these no further statistical prediction can be made.

National Offender Management Service

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment has been made of the requirement for (a) prison places, (b) prison healthcare services, (c) prison workshop places, (d) prison programme places and (e) annual prison escorts for each regional offender manager; and what the outcomes of each of these assessments has been.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 23 January 2006
	One of the key objectives for the National Offender Management Service in the next year is to map out the need of offenders on a regional basis, using OASys and other assessment tools. This will enable regional offender managers to commission services on the basis of identified need rather than historic provision. For 2006–07, service level agreements will be based largely on existing service provision.

Offences Against the Person Act

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people found guilty of an offence under section 18 of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861 were sentenced to (a) five years' imprisonment, (b) four years' imprisonment, (c) three years' imprisonment, (d) two years' imprisonment, (e) one year imprisonment, (f) six months' imprisonment, (g) community service and (h) a fine only in (i) Essex, (ii) the Metropolitan Police part of London, (iii) Hertfordshire and (iv) England and Wales, broken down by (A) sex and (B) age in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: I will arrange for the information requested to be placed in the Library.

Police

Mark Oaten: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the daily cost is of holding a prisoner in a police cell in each police force area.

Charles Clarke: This information is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisons

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of the Prison Service budget was spent on (a) educating adult prisoners and (b) prisoners in young offenders institutions in the last five years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: Responsibility and funding for prisoner education transferred from the Prison Service to the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) in 2002–03.
	From 2000–01 to 2002–03 inclusive, spending on education for all prisoners represented just over 2 per cent. of total Prison Service expenditure. Following the transfer and allocation of additional funding secured by DfES in SR2002, spending on education for all prisoners rose to 3 per cent. a year in 2003–04 and 2004–05.
	The Prison Service education budget split for 2004–05 was 82 per cent. for prisoners in the adult estate and 18 per cent. for prisoners in young offenders institutions.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Measuring Quality of Prison Life audit was last conducted for each prison; what mechanisms there are for public access to these audits; what assessment he has made of the results; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The following table details when prisons were last audited under the Measuring the Quality of Prison Life (MQPL) survey. MQPL, the Weighted Scorecard, cost performance, compliance with Prison Service standards, findings from external inspections by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Prisons and the Independent Monitoring Board inform the quarterly assessment of performance submitted to Ministers through the National Offender Management Service. Survey results and reports may be obtained from the Home Office Open Government Unit.
	
		
			 Date Establishment 
		
		
			 22 November 2004 Acklington 
			 5 January 2004 Albany 
			 3 January 2005 Altcourse 
			 9 February 2004 Ashwell 
			 9 August 2004 Askham Grange 
			 11 April 2005 Aylesbury 
			 22 March 2004 Bedford 
			 17 January 2005 Belmarsh 
			 20 September 2004 Birmingham 
			 11 October 2004 Blakenhurst 
			 28 March 2005 Blantyre House 
			 4 July 2005 Blundeston 
			 19 December 2005 Brinsford 
			 6 September 2004 Bristol 
			 30 August 2004 Brixton 
			 10 October 2005 Brockhill 
			 30 August 2005 Bronzefield 
			 7 March 2005 Bullingdon 
			 1 March 2004 Bullwood Hall 
			 14 March 2005 Camp Hill 
			 13 October 2003 Canterbury 
			 10 May 2005 Cardiff 
			 15 August 2005 Castington 
			 24 January 2005 Channings Wood 
			 1 December 2003 Chelmsford 
			 8 March 2004 Coldingley 
			 26 January 2004 Cookham Wood 
			 2 February 2004 Dartmoor 
			 13 April 2004 Deerbolt 
			 26 January 2004 Doncaster 
			 29 September 2003 Dorchester 
			 12 July 2004 Dovegate 
			 9 December 2005 Downview 
			 17 May 2004 Drake Hall 
			 18 July 2005 Durham 
			 25 July 2005 East Sutton Park 
			 25 April 2005 Eastwood Park 
			 26 July 2005 Edmunds Hill 
			 8 November 2004 Elmley 
			 13 June 2005 Erlestoke 
			 27 July 2005 Everthorpe 
			 18 April 2005 Exeter 
			 22 November 2004 Featherstone 
			 28 November 2005 Feltham 
			 21 February 2005 Ford 
			 28 March 2005 Forest Bank 
			 16 February 2004 Foston Hall 
			 21 March 2005 Frankland 
			 22 March 2004 Full Sutton 
			 24 January 2005 Garth 
			 15 November 2004 Gartree 
			 19 September 2005 Glen Parva 
			 12 January 2004 Gloucester 
			 5 April 2004 Grendon 
			 17 October 2005 Guys Marsh 
			 4 July 2005 Haverigg 
			 10 October 2005 Hewell Grange 
			 16 February 2004 Highdown 
			 7 April 2003 Highpoint North 
			 6 December 2004 Highpoint 
			 7 March 2005 Hindley 
			 13 October 2003 Hollesley Bay 
			 12 July 2004 Holloway 
			 14 November 2005 Hull 
			 3 January 2005 Kingston 
			 21 November 2005 Kirkham 
			 15 March 2004 Kirklevington 
			 16 May 2005 Lancaster 
			 31 May 2004 Lancaster Farms 
			 26 September 2005 Latchmere House 
			 3 October 2005 Leeds 
			 25 October 2004 Leicester 
			 10 January 2005 Lewes 
			 16 May 2005 Leyhill 
			 8 November 2005 Lincoln 
			 7 November 2005 Lindholme 
			 10 May 2004 Littlehey 
			 18 October 2004 Liverpool 
			 14 February 2005 Long Lartin 
			 1 June 2005 Low Newton 
			 21 February 2005 Lowdham Grange 
			 17 January 2005 Maidstone 
			 30 August 2005 Manchester 
			 20 October 2003 Moorland 
			 26 September 2005 Morton Hall 
			 28 February 2005 New Hall 
			 7 February 2005 Northallerton 
			 18 October 2004 Norwich 
			 20 October 2003 Nottingham 
			 5 September 2005 Onley 
			 14 November 2005 Parc Adult 
			 3 November 2003 Parkhurst 
			 8 March 2004 Pentonville 
			 3 May 2004 Portland 
			 25 April 2005 Preston 
			 9 August 2004 Ranby 
			 14 March 2005 Reading 
			 12 September 2005 Risley 
			 1 November 2004 Rochester 
			 26 September 2005 Rye Hill 
			 8 December 2003 Shepton Mallet 
			 17 October 2005 Shrewsbury 
			 26 April 2004 Springhill 
			 18 April 2005 Stafford 
			 29 November 2004 Stanford Hill 
			 15 August 2005 Stocken 
			 23 February 2004 Stoke Heath 
			 30 August 2005 Styal 
			 8 November 2004 Sudbury 
			 6 June 2005 Swaleside 
			 25 July 2005 Swansea 
			 8 August 2005 Swinfen Hall 
			 7 June 2004 The Mount 
			 15 August 2005 The Verne 
			 13 December 2004 Thorn Cross 
			 13 September 2004 Usk and Prescoed 
			 6 June 2005 Wakefield 
			 12 September 2005 Wandsworth 
			 26 January 2004 Wayland 
			 23 August 2004 Wealston 
			 8 September 2003 Weare 
			 4 July 2005 Wellingborough 
			 11 October 2004 Whatton 
			 23 May 2005 Whitemoor 
			 15 November 2004 Winchester 
			 28 July 2003 Wolds 
			 10 October 2005 Woodhill 
			 5 April 2004 Wormwood Scrubs 
			 2 August 2005 Wymott

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend the personal officer scheme across the prison estate; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Prisons are encouraged to operate Personal officer schemes and most already do so.
	The introduction of the offender management model, currently planned for April 2007 for offenders in custody, will result in changes in the way individual offenders are managed and in the role of the personal officer. All sentenced prisoners will then have an offender supervisor, normally a prison officer, who will help ensure they follow an individual sentence plan designed to reduce re-offending and prepare them for their return to the community.

Prisons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  if he will commission further research into the comparative operating costs of publicly and privately operated prisons;
	(2)  when the last review was made of the comparative costs and performance of privately and publicly operated prisons; and what the outcome of that review was.

Fiona Mactaggart: The last review of the comparative costs and performance of privately and publicly managed prisons was in respect of 1998–99. Since then the performance of the prisons in both sectors has been continuously monitored through key performance targets. There are no current plans to commission further research.

Prisons

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost of the operation of the Office of Contracted Prisons was in each of the last eight years for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: The cost of the operation of the Office for Contracted Prisons for the years 2003–04 and 2004–05 is shown in the following table:
	
		
			   £000 
			  2003–04 2004–05 
		
		
			 Pay (12)407 (12)606 
			 Non-pay 415 397 
			 Total (13)822 (13)1,003 
		
	
	(12) Additional pay costs were incurred during 2004–05 because of the recruitment of a full team of office support staff.
	(13) Figures are for the operation of the Office for Contracted Prisons only: they do not include the costs of contracts or of controllers teams based in individual prisons.
	Note:
	Data cannot be provided for earlier years as the Office for Contracted Prisons was not created until April 2003. Before this date, the management of contracted prisons was the responsibility of individual Prison Service area managers: costs for the contracted prisons were included within individual Prison Service area budgets.

Prisons

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made towards achieving his Department's targets for (a) holding prisoners closer to home and (b) developing opportunities for jobs and housing when prisoners are released.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are currently no targets for the distance at which prisoners are held from their home address.
	Employment, training and education (ETE) outcomes for prisoners released before April 2005 can be separated only at disproportionate cost. Education training and employment (ETE) outcomes also include those who attended Freshstart appointments at Jobcentre Plus. Freshstart is the initiative whereby prisoners who do not have a job or training place to go to on release are linked into employment, training and benefits advice and support immediately after release. The Accommodation and ETE targets for 2004–05 and the recorded outcomes are given in the following table.
	
		
			 Number of discharges 2004–05 Number with accommodation Number with ETE Target Percentage target 
		
		
			 Accommodation 
			 85,685 66,888 — 64,765 +3.2 
			  
			 ETE 
			 85,685 — 41,146 38,012 +7.6

Prisons

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans his Department has for the building of new prisons in England and Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are no plans at present to build any new prisons in England or Wales.

Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the cost per prison place was in each prison establishment in England and Wales for the financial year 2004–05.

Fiona Mactaggart: The cost per prison place for each establishment in the prison estate for 2004–05 is shown in the following table. Costs per place vary considerably across the estate, with costs for securing those prisoners deemed to be of highest risk (Category A) being at the highest end of the spectrum and the cost of a place in an open establishment being at the lowest. 
	
		Cost per prison place
		
			 Establishment Sector Cost per place (£) 
		
		
			 Acklington Public 16,816 
			 Albany Public 21,293 
			 Altcourse Contracted 50,848 
			 Ashfield Contracted 41,047 
			 Ashwell Public 19,084 
			 Askham Grange Public 24,032 
			 Aylesbury Public 30,877 
			 Bedford Public 36,648 
			 Belmarsh Public 44,265 
			 Birmingham Public 25,081 
			 Blakenhurst Public 26,506 
			 Blakenhurst Contracted 26,506 
			 Blantyre House Public 23,339 
			 Blundeston Public 26,715 
			 Brinsford Public 31,978 
			 Bristol Public 41,443 
			 Brixton Public 35,799 
			 Brockhill Public 43,086 
			 Buckley Hall Public 27,480 
			 Bullingdon Public 25,380 
			 Bullwood Hall Public 45,044 
			 Camp Hill Public 22,592 
			 Canterbury Public 35,858 
			 Cardiff Public 30,343 
			 Castington Public 35,125 
			 Channings Wood Public 21,289 
			 Chelmsford Public 34,824 
			 Coldingley Public 24,704 
			 Cookham Wood Public 38,952 
			 Dartmoor Public 21,973 
			 Deerbolt Public 27,288 
			 Doncaster Contracted 24,942 
			 Dorchester Public 47,607 
			 Dovegate Contracted 28,826 
			 Dover Public 27,250 
			 Downview Public 32,029 
			 Drake Hall Public 25,166 
			 Durham Public 35,035 
			 East Sutton Park Public 25,916 
			 Eastwood Park Public 33,145 
			 Edmunds Hill Public 26,566 
			 Elmley Public 21,978 
			 Erlestoke Public 19,414 
			 Everthorpe Public 21,924 
			 Exeter Public 37,862 
			 Featherstone Public 22,909 
			 Feltham Public 48,885 
			 Ford Public 15,074 
			 Forest Bank Contracted 27,359 
			 Foston Hall Public 31,682 
			 Frankland Public 44,259 
			 Full Sutton Public 43,062 
			 Garth Public 24,523 
			 Gartree Public 28,374 
			 Glen Parva Public 29,432 
			 Gloucester Public 41,169 
			 Grendon Public 24,924 
			 Guys Marsh Public 18,983 
			 Haslar Public 26,683 
			 Haverigg Public 21,108 
			 Hewell Grange Public 22,912 
			 High Down Public 29,351 
			 Highpoint Public 17,721 
			 Hindley Public 34,592 
			 Hollesley Bay Public 20,830 
			 Holloway Public 46,755 
			 Holme House Public 23,953 
			 Hull Public 27,446 
			 Huntercombe Public 40,502 
			 Kingston Public 29,336 
			 Kirkham Public 22,415 
			 Kirklevington Public 17,649 
			 Lancaster Public 44,900 
			 Lancaster Farms Public 34,755 
			 Latchmere House Public 17,029 
			 Leeds Public 31,376 
			 Leicester Public 47,248 
			 Lewes Public 26,821 
			 Leyhill Public 21,360 
			 Lincoln Public 30,449 
			 Lindholme Public 24,558 
			 Littlehey Public 18,481 
			 Liverpool Public 23,695 
			 Long Lartin Public 35,497 
			 Low Newton Public 27,905 
			 Lowdham Grange Contracted 25,677 
			 Maidstone Public 20,609 
			 Manchester Public 30,948 
			 Moorland Public 22,513 
			 Motion Hall Public 20,244 
			 Mount Public 20,255 
			 New Hall Public 41,834 
			 North Sea Camp Public 16,083 
			 Northallerton Public 39,767 
			 Norwich Public 28,455 
			 Nottingham Public 33,677 
			 Onley Public 23,146 
			 Pare Contracted 38,577 
			 Parkhurst Public 32,403 
			 Pentonville Public 31,002 
			 Portland Public 23,844 
			 Preston Public 38,382 
			 Ranby Public 23,318 
			 Reading Public 43,296 
			 Risley Public 19,728 
			 Rochester Public 24,129 
			 Rye Hill Contracted 24,003 
			 Send Public 26,941 
			 Shepton Mallet Public 32,894 
			 Shrewsbury Public 45,219 
			 Stafford Public 20,666 
			 Standford Hill Public 19,152 
			 Stocken Public 19,061 
			 Stoke Heath Public 31,552 
			 Styal Public 33,791 
			 Sudbury Public 15,414 
			 Swaleside Public 20,162 
			 Swansea Public 41,639 
			 Swinfen Hall Public 31,320 
			 Thorn Cross Public 27,855 
			 Usk·Prescoed Public 26,366 
			 Verne Public 18,321 
			 Wakefield Public 30,913 
			 Wandsworth Public 30,801 
			 Warren Hill Public 44,340 
			 Wayland Public 17,944 
			 Wealstun Public 20,374 
			 Weare Public 20,547 
			 Wellingborough Public 21,152 
			 Werrington Public 47,004 
			 Wetherby Public 34,875 
			 Whatton Public 22,401 
			 Whitemoor Public 51,954 
			 Winchester Public 35,615 
			 Wolds Contracted 21,507 
			 Woodhill Public 41,213 
			 Wormwood Scrubs Public 24,809 
			 Wymott Public 20,311

Prisons

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) male and (b) female remand prisoners were subsequently (i) acquitted and (ii) sentenced to a non-custodial penalty in the last 12 months for which figures are available.

Fiona Mactaggart: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The information requested is provided in the following table.
	
		Final court outcome for persons remanded in custody at some stage in magistrates court proceedings or at the Crown court in England and Wales, 2004
		
			  Males Females All persons 
		
		
			 Final court outcome
			 Acquitted, etc 15,615 1,409 17,024 
			 
			 Convicted:
			 Discharge 2,144 389 2,533 
			 Fine 3,545 347 3,892 
			 Community sentence 13,717 1,948 15,665 
			 Fully suspended sentence 226 93 319 
			 Immediate custody 40,491 3,197 43,687 
			 Total 78,460 7,749 86,209

Prisons

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in cost he expects will be realised as a result of the performance test of the prisons on the Isle of Sheppey.

Fiona Mactaggart: The performance test at Sheppey was designed to encourage better quality and value for money in the supervision and care of offenders on the Isle of Sheppey. In its proposals, the Prison Service identified approximately £2 million of cost savings which will be reinvested to deliver improved quality. Hence, the proposals are cost neutral, but will deliver enhanced outcomes.

Prisons

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he (a) has taken and (b) plans to take to change the role of prison officers in relation to the promotion of education and learning within prisons; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Education for offenders in custody is provided by contractors. There are no plans to change the role of prison officers in relation to the promotion of offender education and learning within prisons.

Prisons

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners have been re-categorised from category C to category D at Coldingley prison in each of the last six months.

Fiona Mactaggart: The table contains the relevant information for the last six months of 2005.
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 July 17 
			 August 15 
			 September 8 
			 October 6 
			 November 13 
			 December 15

Probation Service

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of levels of staff absenteeism in the probation service in each region in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: The level of staff sickness absence for each region of the national probation service (NPS) since 2001–02 is shown in the following table.
	The national average so far this year stands at 12.2 days, a marginal improvement from 12.3 days achieved in each of the two preceding years.
	The need for the NPS to improve its performance on sickness absence is acknowledged and is actively being addressed. The director of probation has asked all areas to produce a performance improvement plan that sets out clear actions to reduce their levels of absence.
	
		National probation service: Average days' sickness absence per member of staff per year
		
			 Region 2001–02(14) 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06(15) 
		
		
			 West Midlands 12.7 12.2 12.5 12.0 13.5 
			 North East 11.3 11.4 11.8 12.7 12.0 
			 East of England 11.3 10.7 11.6 11.0 11.1 
			 North West 13.4 13.4 13.3 13.2 13.0 
			 East Midlands 10.5 11.2 10.6 11.2 11.2 
			 Yorks and Humberside 13.7 11.6 11.2 9.7 9.9 
			 South East 12.0 11.9 11.2 11.9 12.5 
			 South West 14.1 11.9 13.1 11.0 9.7 
			 London 12.0 10.2 14.6 16.5 14.4 
			 Wales 15.6 14.2 14.3 12.9 13.1 
			 England and Wales 12.7 11.9 12.3 12.3 12.2 
		
	
	(14) July 2001-March 2002
	(15) April-November 2005
	Source:
	Monthly sickness absence monitoring returns submitted by the 42 probation areas to the national probation directorate.

Probation Service

Cheryl Gillan: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how the proposed police boundary changes will affect the probation service in Wales.

Fiona Mactaggart: Until the future structure of policing in Wales has been decided, it is not possible to be clear about the implications for the probation service.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether further legislation will be necessary to introduce contestability into the provision of probation services.

Fiona Mactaggart: Local probation boards currently have an exclusive statutory duty to make arrangements for the provision of probation services. This enables them to enter into contracts with other organisations to deliver services on their behalf. But legislation is necessary to enable the Secretary of State to contract direct with a range of organisations to deliver probation services.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his proposals for restructuring the Probation Service allow (a) members of the public and (b) local organisations to be informed of applicants for contracts to provide probation services; and what powers there will be to make objections to applicants.

Fiona Mactaggart: There are no plans to publish the names of those tendering for a contract to provide probation services. Competitions will be organised in full compliance with the revised EU Procurement Directives; an objection to a bidder's participation in the competition would be considered in the light of the Directives which allow for the disqualification of a bidder under specified circumstances such as fraud.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether his proposals for restructuring the Probation Service will give offenders rights to object to being supervised by a particular provider of probation services under contract.

Fiona Mactaggart: No. Offenders will not be able to object to being supervised by any particular provider of probation services.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many responses to the consultation paper Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending" were received from individual members of (a) probation staff, (b) probation services and (c) probation boards; and how many were supportive of the proposal;.
	(2)  if he will place in the Library the response he has received from the Magistrates' Association to the paper Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending";
	(3)  if he will place in the Library the response he has received from the Police Federation to the paper Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending";
	(4)  if he will place in the Library the response he has received from the members of the judiciary to the paper Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending";
	(5)  how many responses were received to the consultation paper, Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending"; and how many of these responses were supportive of the Government's position.

Fiona Mactaggart: Around 750 responses to the consultation paper have been received from a range of individuals and organisations. These are being analysed at the moment. We will publish a summary of them, along with our response to the key issues raised, within three months of the closing date for the consultation (20 December 2005).

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he intends to take with regard to restructuring the Probation Service if employees refuse to accept the transfer of their employment from a probation board to a probation trust or private company.

Fiona Mactaggart: When probation trusts are established, most staff will transfer from probation boards to the new trusts on the same terms and conditions of employment. If, in due course, work transfers to an alternative provider, staff will generally transfer, with their pay, terms and conditions protected by TUPE and the recent extension of the Two Tier Workforce Agreement. Staff who do not wish to transfer will be free to terminate their contract of employment. The employment status of chief officers will change in the transition from boards to trusts: they will cease to be statutory office holders appointed by the Secretary of State and will instead be appointed and employed by the trust itself. If a chief is not appointed to the trust, he or she will be compensated accordingly.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether the introduction of the proposals to restructure the probation service has been (a) cancelled and (b) postponed;
	(2)  when legislation will be introduced to give him the power to commission probation services;
	(3)  what plans he has for the future of probation boards.

Fiona Mactaggart: Proposals for the restructuring of the probation service were set out in the Home Office consultation paper, Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending", published on 20 October. Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methodology was used to determine the extent to which proposals for the future of the Probation Service will reduce the adult reconviction rate as set out in paragraph 31 of the consultation paper, Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending; and over what period of time the expected reduction is expected to be achieved.

Fiona Mactaggart: The National Offender Management Service has a target to reduce re-offending by 5 per cent. by 2008 and by 10 per cent. by the end of the decade. The restructuring proposals are part of a broader programme of change, including the introduction of end-to-end offender management and improvements in IT systems, which will help to contribute to the achievement of that target. The consultation paper does not seek to quantify the extent to which the restructuring proposals alone will reduce re-offending. But experience elsewhere suggests that the introduction of competition in the delivery of services helps to drive up performance. Examples from the custodial sector are given in the partial regulatory impact assessment which was published alongside the consultation paper.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what methodology was used to produce the figures for cost savings contained in the Regulatory Impact Statement for the proposals for restructuring the probation service.

Fiona Mactaggart: The indicative cost savings contained in the partial Regulatory Impact Statement assumed cost savings within the range of 3 per cent. to 8.5 per cent. through contesting certain activities of the national probation service. This range was based on the experience of the savings delivered through the market and performance testing programme within the Prison Service. The savings profile assumed a 10 year programme of contestability with no more that 12 per cent. by value of probation business being contested in any one year. The projected cash savings were discounted using a standard 25 year discounted cash flow analysis.

Quick Check

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines his Department has issued on the use of the fingerprint testing machine quick check; and if he will make a statement.

Tony McNulty: Written guidance in the form of policy and process on the use of quick-check is available on the Immigration Nationality Directorate (IND) website. Additionally, training (and continued access to expert advice) on the practical application of the machines is made available on request.

Reoffending

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offenders (a) released early from prison and (b) who had completed their sentences reoffended within two years in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on the two year reoffending rate by proportion of sentence served is not collated centrally.
	However, information on offenders recalled while under Home Detention Curfew and on those offenders recalled to custody following release on parole are published annually. The latest data are shown in Chapter 10 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics, a copy of which is placed in the Library.

Sex Offenders

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidelines for the issuing of licences to (a) sex offenders and (b) child sex offenders his Department publishes; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Offenders who are supervised in the community by the probation service following a custodial sentence are subject to a licence, which is issued by the governor of the releasing establishment. The licence contains the standard conditions for supervision, together with any additional conditions deemed necessary for the purpose of protecting the public from further offending and assisting the offender's rehabilitation.
	Additional conditions are inserted on the advice of the probation service and are designed to manage and reduce an offender's risk of re-offending.
	The National Probation Service issued guidance on the use of licence conditions on 8 March 2005 under probation circular 16/2005 'Criminal Justice Act 2003—Early Release and Recall'. This guidance concerns all offenders on licence including those who have been convicted of sexual offences against adults or children.

Television Licence

Hugo Swire: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individuals were prosecuted for not paying the television licence fee in each year since 1996–97.

Fiona Mactaggart: The information from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform is contained in the table and shows the number of people proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 and the Communications Act 2003 (mainly television licence evasion), 1996 to 2004.
	
		Defendants proceeded against at magistrates courts for offences under the Wireless Telegraphy Acts 1949 to 1967 (mainly television licence evasion), England and Wales, 1996 to 2004(16)
		
			 Number 
			  Proceeded against 
		
		
			 1996 188,118 
			 1997 92,749 
			 1998 96,641 
			 1999 68,790 
			 2000 121,137 
			 2001 96,484 
			 2002 110,170 
			 2003 93,915 
			 2004(17) 115,643 
		
	
	(16) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(17) The TV licensing provisions of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 were replaced by new provisions in the Communications Act 2003 which came into effect 1 April 2004.
	Source:
	RDS—Office for Criminal Justice Reform.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Asylum Seekers

Bob Spink: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what rules apply to (a) asylum seekers and (b) illegal immigrants for (i) benefit claims and (ii) the repayment of overpayment of benefits; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: DWP administered benefits are not payable to illegal immigrants; they have not been payable to asylum seekers arriving in Great Britain since April 2000. As such, the only overpayments that would arise would be through fraud and error. There are no different rules for such individuals when considering whether, and how, an overpayment should be recovered.

Benefits

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many of those receiving pension credit are also receiving council tax benefit in (a) West Lancashire and (b) England.

James Plaskitt: As at May 2005, there were 4,300 pensioner households in the West Lancashire district council area, and 1,634,600 pensioner households in England, receiving both pension credit and council tax benefit.

Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will summarise the responses to the Housing Green Paper, Quality and Choice: a decent Home for All" relating to proposed simplification of the Housing Benefit Non-Dependent Deduction regime.

James Plaskitt: There were 495 respondents to the Housing Green Paper—"Quality & Choice; A decent Home for All" in April 2000, 103 of whom supported simplification or reform of non-dependent deductions. Five respondents disagreed with simplification.
	The Government's Paper The Way Forward for Housing", published in December 2000, stated that the Government did not intend to pursue further reform of non-dependent deductions. However, the Government have taken the opportunity to make changes to the scheme.
	From October 2003, if the householder or their partner is aged 65 or more, and a non-dependant moves into their home, or an existing non-dependant's circumstances change to increase the deduction, then the start of the deduction or increase in deduction is delayed for 26 weeks. From April 2005, if the non-dependant is on pension credit, no deduction is made in respect of that non-dependant.
	At present, there are no plans to simplify the provisions further for non-dependants in housing benefit, but they will remain under review.

Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will estimate the proportion of private sector tenants in receipt of housing benefit or local housing allowance who have elected to move to alternative private sector accommodation while continuing their claim in (a) Pathfinder and (b) non-Pathfinder areas since the Pathfinder pilots started.

James Plaskitt: The impact of the local housing allowance on the propensity of private sector tenants on housing benefit to move will be monitored as part of the ongoing evaluation of the local housing allowance.
	This will be reported in the forthcoming 15 month Claimant Report, due to be published this spring, and as part of the results from the final wave of the evaluation, due to be published at the end of the year.

Benefits

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of widening the housing benefit extended payment scheme from April 2004 to include those in receipt of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Data on housing benefit extended payments for incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants are not currently available.
	Such data are estimated using the previous four quarters' returns. May 2005 is the first quarter that sufficient data were available to be analysed. That analysis is on-going; we expect figures to be available later this year.

Benefits

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of paying the housing benefit of tenants transferred from council tenancies to registered social landlords since 1997.

James Plaskitt: We have not made such an estimate. To determine such a figure would require detailed assumptions about the rents each authority might theoretically have charged had it retained the stock. However, the potential impact on housing benefit where stock is transferred to registered social landlords is considered as part of the overall value-for-money assessment of transfers.

Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions pursuant to his answer of 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1550W, on housing benefit, what additional information he would need to collect to estimate the cost.

James Plaskitt: The main constraint in calculating accurately the cost requested is that there is no information about the individuals that would have been affected (gainers and floaters on) and the additional benefit they would have received had the disregards been changed from 1988 onwards. We do not have the necessary information to make the estimate; it would not be possible collect the necessary information retrospectively.

Benefits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people entitled to but not claiming (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in each year since 1997–98; what the annual cost saving was from this unclaimed benefit; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The estimated number of people entitled to but not claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit in each year since 1997–98 is in the table.
	
		The estimated number of people entitled to but not claiming Housing benefit and council tax benefit each year since 1997–98
		
			 Thousand 
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 1997–98 110:470 1,200:1,660 
			 1998–99 130:430 1,250:1,750 
			 1999–2000 200:530 1,280:1,860 
			 2000–01 240:580 1,450:2,000 
			 2001–02 390:680 1,760:2,340 
			 2002–03 420:700 1,870:2,440 
		
	
	Forecasts of spending on benefits are based on estimates of those who will actually receive the benefit, not those who are entitled. This is in accordance with Government Accounting rules that require forecasts to be taut and realistic. Forecasts are generally based on trends in administrative data on people actually in receipt of benefits. This normally means take-up of benefits is implicitly assumed to remain at around current levels, although the anticipated impact of initiatives to increase take up will also be included. Forecasts do not make an explicit assumption about take-up.
	Consequently, there is no saving, relative to spending plans, from take-up of benefits being lower than 100 per cent. If take-up of benefits was higher than is implicit in the forecasts, spending would be higher than planned.
	However, the department does publish estimates of the amount of benefit unclaimed in each year, The estimated amount of benefit unclaimed for housing benefit and council tax benefit in each year since 1997–98 is in the table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 1997–98 140:700 400:600 
			 1998–99 170:630 440:650 
			 1999–2000 290:840 460:710 
			 2000–01 360:960 590:860 
			 2001–02 630:1,230 760:1,060 
			 2002–03 760:1,400 880:1,200 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are sourced from the Family Resources Survey.
	2. The latest estimates of the number of entitled non-recipients, range. unclaimed, and take-up relate to 2002–03, and can be found in the DWP report entitled Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002–2003". Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	3. Estimates for 2003–04 will be published in early 2006.
	4. Estimates are presented as ranges within which it can be assumed the true number lies. These ranges account for possible biases inherent in estimates from data that is less than perfect.
	5. Comparing estimates over time is not straightforward. Our estimates allow for biases, which can change from year to year; but we cannot be sure of the extent or effects of changes. Therefore, any analysis of changes over time should be made with caution.

Call Centres (Relocation)

John McFall: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the potential savings to be made by relocating his Department's call centres overseas; and if he will make a statement.

Anne McGuire: The Department has no intention of moving any of its jobs overseas and has made no such estimate.

Child Maintenance

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people have (a) been sent to prison and (b) lost their driving licence for a period of time for refusing to comply with the Child Support Agency in each quarter since 1995–96; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 16 November 2005
	The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 31 January 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people have (a) been sent to prison and (b) lost their driving licence for a period of time for refusing to comply with the Child Support Agency in each quarter since 1995–96; and if he will make a statement.
	Committal to prison action:
	Our records between 1995/96 and 1999 are unreliable and information pre-dating 2001/2002 does not specify whether the non-resident parent served a prison sentence. The records only show whether a warrant was issued. However, from March 1999 to October 2005 there have been 545 suspended prison sentences. I have noted below the number of prison sentences actually served.
	2001/2002—0 sentences served
	2002/2003—4 sentences served
	2003/2004—8 sentences served
	2004/2005—8 sentences served
	2005/2006 (April -Nov)—8 sentences served
	Removal of driving licences:
	The power to withdraw driving licences was brought into effect on 2 April 2001 (under the Child Support, Pensions and Social Security Act 2000). From then until October 2005 there have been 60 suspended driving licence sentences. I have noted below the number of driving licences actually withdrawn.
	2001/2002—0 driving licences removed
	2002/2003—1 driving licence removed
	2003/2004—1 driving licence removed
	2004/2005—5 driving licences removed
	005/2006—4 driving licences removed (April-Nov)
	We use these ultimate sanctions as the final lever to achieve compliance rather than as a punitive measure for those non-resident parents who will not pay. This explains the difference between the number of warrants we obtain and the number of driving licences withdrawn or prison sentences actually served. The Agency can only request that courts consider these sanctions, however it is for the magistrates or sheriffs to make the decision.
	The creation of the Enforcement Directorate has already significantly improved the Agency's enforcement performance and effectiveness with substantially improved outcomes at the more routine stages of enforcement for example bailiff action, third party debt orders and charging orders.
	I hope this is helpful.

Child Maintenance

Frank Field: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to reply to question 27502, on child maintenance, tabled by the hon. Member for Birkenhead on 10 November 2005.

James Plaskitt: holding answer 16 January 2006
	I refer my right hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 19 January 2006, Official Report, column 1553W.

Child Poverty

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what proportion of children in relative low-income households have been living in poverty in each year since 1990–91.

Margaret Hodge: We recognise that poverty and social exclusion are not just about low income, or the goods and services that people can afford. We understand that people's opportunities and quality of life are also shaped by their education, their skills, by access to quality health services, by decent housing and by the security and quality of the areas in which they live.
	However, for measurement purposes, the threshold of below 60 per cent. contemporary median (also known as relative) income is the most commonly used to define the number of children living in poverty. This is the same measure that is used to report trends in low income.

Child Support Agency

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 1 February 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what plans he has to change the rules which detect anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme; and if he will make a statement.
	There are currently no plans to change the rules, which detect anomalies, inaccuracies and incomplete data in the Child Support Agency's new scheme.
	To ensure that new scheme cases are supported by complete and accurate data the Agency operates a risk based management checking regime for new applications and the maintenance of both the New and Old Scheme live caseloads.
	We have acknowledged that there are problems with our new computer system and work is ongoing to resolve these with system releases planned for early 2006 to deliver further improvements. The Agency is continuing to work closely with EDS to remedy the outstanding problems and plans future releases during 2006 and 2007 and build upon the improvements already made.

Child Support Agency

Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what account is taken by the Child Support Agency of Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service advice to the courts on access arrangement for the non-resident parent when making parent decisions on payments in any particular case;
	(2)  what recent discussions there have been between the Child Support Agency and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service;
	(3)  what mechanisms are in place to ensure cooperation and information-sharing between the Child Support Agency and the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service.

James Plaskitt: The amount of child maintenance can be affected by the number of nights the child spends with the non-resident parent. However, this calculation is based on what is actually happening. The Agency therefore relies on the information provided by both parents, rather than a third party such as CAFCASS.
	We do value working in partnership with stakeholders, and although there are no formal contracts between the Child Support Agency and CAFCASS at present, the Agency is committed to extending their relationship with stakeholders and will include CAFCASS in any future stakeholder communication.

Child Support Agency

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in how many cases over the last five years the courts have made orders for compensation against the Child Support Agency.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the Chief Executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 1 February 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency, the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply from the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, in how many cases over the last five years the courts have made orders for compensation against the Child Support Agency.
	Although the Agency tracks and reports the overall level of compensation payments, we cannot distinguish between compensation paid under our extra-statutory scheme (which allows clients to seek compensation without the need to go to court) and payments made to litigants as a result of an order from a court. We are therefore unable to provide the precise information you have requested on payments made as a result of a court order for compensation against the Child Support Agency.
	Over the last year, however, we have introduced a small litigation team to handle cases where the client is taking action against the Agency. This team is not aware of any cases where the courts have made orders for compensation against the Agency.
	I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.

Child Support Agency

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much information relating to Child Support Agency cases in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has been lost since the introduction of the new IT system.

James Plaskitt: The administration of the Child Support Agency is a matter for the chief executive. He will write to the hon. Member with the information requested.
	Letter from Stephen Geraghty, dated 1 February 2006
	In reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about the Child Support Agency the Secretary of State promised a substantive reply form the Chief Executive.
	You asked the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how much information relating to Child Support Agency cases in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham has been lost since the introduction of the new IT system.
	Neither the Agency nor the service supplier (EDS) are aware that any data has been lost from the new computer system (CS2) in any area of the country. Any information relating to child support cases that has been saved to the system is retained in the system.
	I hope you find this information helpful.

Damages

John Hayes: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the 10 largest amounts of damages paid out by his Department in the last year for which figures are available, indicating in each case the nature of the claim.

Anne McGuire: The Department deals with cases involving personal injury, commercial and employment matters. In relation to commercial and personal injury matters, no cases have been lost in the last year causing the Department to pay damages. (Personal injury cases in relation to Jobcentre Plus are outsourced and the information about them is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost). In relation to employment matters, four cases were lost at the employment tribunal in 2004 which caused damages to be paid. They all relate to Jobcentre Plus and the details are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
		
		
			 April 2004 Unfair dismissal 60,000.00 
			 August 2004 Constructive dismissal 37,850.86 
			 November 2004 Constructive dismissal 21,372.19 
			 June 2004 Public Interest Disclosure Act 9,000.00

Departmental Assets

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the items valued at over £100 that have been reported as stolen from buildings occupied by his Department in the past 12 months.

James Plaskitt: This information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Guidance (Evidency/Documentary Access)

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what his policy is with regard to (a) Ministers and (b) officials in his Department giving evidence to the (i) Scottish Parliament, (ii) National Assembly for Wales and (iii) Northern Ireland Assembly committees; and to what categories of document he gives (A) full access, (B) restricted access and (C) no access to the (1) Scottish Parliament, (2) National Assembly for Wales, (3) Northern Ireland Assembly and (4) House of Commons Select Committees.

Anne McGuire: Requests for the attendance of Ministers or officials to give evidence to the devolved legislatures will be considered on a case by case basis. This consideration will reflect: the principles set out in the Cabinet Office guidance Departmental Evidence and Response to Select Committees (July 2005); the policy outlined in the Department for Constitutional Affairs' Devolution Guidance Note 12 Attendance of UK Ministers and Officials at Committees of the devolved legislatures; and the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act. The principles underlying the provision of information to House of Commons Select Committees are set out in Departmental Evidence and response to Select Committees, particularly sections 4B and 4C.

Departmental Special Advisers

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will list the special advisers employed by his Department; and what their responsibilities are in each case.

Anne McGuire: The Special Advisers to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions are John Williams and John Woodcock. They work in accordance with the Code of Conduct for Special Advisers.

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

Stephen Timms: The production, management and maintenance of the DWP website www.dwp.gov.uk is carried out by the Department's in-house e-communications team. It is not possible to quantify internal costs for the site but contracted and quantifiable costs have been included.
	The departmental site is hosted by our IT contractors. In most cases it is not possible to separate these costs from contracted costs.
	The cost for maintaining www.dwp.gov.uk for the last year for which figures are available (financial year 2004–05) was £101,467.
	The number of unique visitors to the site for each of the last 12 months is given in the following table.
	
		
			  Number 
			 2005 Unique visitors 
		
		
			 January 226,862 
			 February 226,725 
			 March 242,377 
			 April 241,648 
			 May 239,310 
			 June 217,544 
			 July 212,847 
			 August 225,773 
			 September 245,289 
			 October 256,502 
			 November 276,836 
			 December 211,383

Fraudulent Activities (Collaborative Projects)

Claire Curtis-Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what collaborative projects his Department has undertaken with the Merseyside Police Authority to combat fraudulent activities; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of those projects.

James Plaskitt: Investigators from the Department for Work and Pensions have worked with officers from the Merseyside Police Authority for a number of years in cases where they have had a common interest and where the Department has required police assistance.
	An example of collaborative projects has included operation Bromsgrove, a multi-agency investigation into illegal workers some of whom were suspected of benefit fraud. The labour provider at the centre of the operation is currently facing prosecution. A number of people found to be illegally claiming benefits from the Department are currently being considered for benefit sanction.

Industrial Injuries Advisory Council

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what reports have been produced by the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council since 1 January 1997; and if he will make a statement.

Margaret Hodge: The Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has produced 14 reports since 1 January 1997, not including its annual reports. These are listed:
	Command papers (presented to Parliament)
	Diseases induced by ionising and non-ionising radiation—March 1999 (Cm 4280)
	Conditions due to chemical agents—February 2002 (Cm 5395)
	Occupational deafness—November 2002 (Cm 5672)
	Conditions due to biological agents—November 2003 (Cm 5997)
	Osteoarthritis of the hip—November 2003 (Cm 5977)
	Hand arm vibration syndrome—July 2004 (Cm 6098)
	Asbestos-related diseases—July 2004 (Cm 6553)
	Vinyl chloride monomer-related diseases—November 2005 (Cm 6645)
	Position papers
	Review of the schedule of prescribed diseases—January 1997
	Lung function assessment, Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit, Prescribed Disease D12 (Chronic bronchitis and emphysema in underground coalminers)—February 2000
	The neurobehavioral effects of chronic exposure to solvents—December 2003
	Stress at work—March 2004
	Silica-related renal and connective tissue diseases—November 2005
	Sporting injuries—November 2005
	Copies of the Command Papers and Position Papers are available in the House of Commons Library.

Lone Parents (Employment)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether the definition of employment used in measuring progress towards the target to help 70 per cent. of lone parents into employment by 2010 includes (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress has been made to date towards meeting the target of helping 70 per cent. of lone parents into employment by 2010.

Margaret Hodge: The Government have set themselves the ambitious target of increasing the employment rate of lone parents to 70 per cent. by 2010. The target is measured using the labour force survey and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of employment which includes both full and part-time employment.
	Helping lone parents return to the labour market is the most effective way of ensuring their social inclusion and is the best route out of poverty for them and their children. Additionally, the increase in sustainable employment that results from this movement into work increases the productive potential of the economy.
	We have already made significant progress in achieving this target. There are now over 1 million lone parents in work, 318,000 more than in 1997; the lone parent employment rate has increased by 11 percentage points since 1997, currently standing at 56.6 per cent. and the number of lone parents claiming income support has fallen by around a quarter since 1997.

Ministerial Visits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many visits abroad Ministers in his Department have made in relation to policy on child care for working parents since 2001.

Margaret Hodge: Since 1999, the Government have published annually information relating to Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas costing more than £500. Copies of the published lists for the years 2001 to 31 March 2005 are available in the Libraries of the House. The detailed information the hon. Member has requested in respect of other Ministers is not collected centrally and to collect it would involve incurring disproportionate cost.
	Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.

New Deal

Graham Stuart: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in Beverley and Holderness who attained employment through a new deal programme have since restarted on a new deal programme.

Margaret Hodge: Of the 2,160 people who have been helped into work through the new deal in the Beverley and Holderness constituency, 420 have since restarted on a new deal programme.
	Some people will become unemployed again after leaving the new deal. This is inevitable in a dynamic labour market, but the evidence shows that new deal helps people stay in work longer than those in the general labour market. After finding a job through new deal individuals will also have added to their skills and experience, making it easier for them to find a job in the future.

New Deal

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many people in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham who attained sustained employment through a new deal programme in the last three years have since restarted on a new deal programme.

Margaret Hodge: In the three years to August 2005, 1,180 people gained sustained employment through new deal for young people, new deal 25 plus and new deal for lone parents in the constituency of Hammersmith and Fulham. In the three year period to November 2005, 140 people had restarted on a new deal programme in the constituency of Hammersmith and Fulham. Those restarting on a new deal programme may have joined a different new deal programme from the one they were on before.
	A sustainability measure is not available for new deal 50 plus and new deal for partners. Information is not available at constituency level for new deal for disabled people.
	Information is not collected at borough level.

New Deal

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 50 to 54, (ii) 55 to 59 and (iii) 60 to 64 years have taken part in (A) new deal 50-plus on a voluntary basis and (B) new deal 25-plus on a compulsory basis; and which options they took.

Margaret Hodge: New deal 25-plus is a mandatory programme designed to help long term unemployed people back into work. It is aimed at people aged 25 and over who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for 18 out of the last 21 months. This includes those aged 50 and over who have not previously participated in new deal 25-plus.
	Unemployed or economically inactive people aged 50 or over and who have been claiming benefits for 6 months or more can also volunteer to join the new deal 50-plus.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		New deal 50-plus
		
			  Male Female 
			 Age group Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 50 to 54 20,320 56 16,090 44 
			 55 to 59 14,350 69 6,800 31 
			 60 to 64 2,520 97 90 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information on participants on new deal 50-plus is only available from January 2004.
	2. Figures are cumulative to August 2005.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, DWP
	
		New deal 25-plus
		
			  Male Female 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 People aged 50 to 54 
			 Compulsory starts 49,590 77 14,560 23 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 The enhanced new deal 25-plus programme 20,600 74 7,060 26 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 Employment option 540 79 140 21 
			 Basic educational training/basic skills 550 76 180 24 
			 Self-employment 450 82 100 18 
			 Education/training opportunity 130 78 40 22 
			 Work experience/placement 770 79 200 21 
			 Intensive activity Period training 830 76 260 24 
			 Other 30 71 10 29 
			  
			 People aged 55 to 60 
			 Compulsory starts 44,260 76 13,920 24 
			 Of which started 
			 The enhanced new deal 25-plus programme 18,150 73 6,880 27 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 Employment option 390 75 130 25 
			 Basic educational training/basic skills 340 76 110 24 
			 Self-employment 300 85 50 15 
			 Education/training opportunity 80 82 20 18 
			 Work experience/placement 460 77 140 23 
			 Intensive activity period training 450 80 110 20 
			 Other 30 76 10 24 
			  
			 People aged 60 to 64 
			 Compulsory starts 2,650 97 90 3 
			  
			 Of which started 
			 The enhanced new deal 25-plus programme 1,520 98 30 2 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 Employment option 10 100 0 0 
			 Basic educational training/basic skills 0 100 0 0 
			 Self-employment 10 100 0 0 
			 Education/training opportunity 0 — 0 — 
			 Work experience/placement 10 100 0 0 
			 Intensive activity period training 20 100 0 0 
			 Other 0 — 0 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	Consists of people who, when starting the programme, had been claiming jobseeker's allowance for 18 out of the previous 21 months, and who had not previously participated on new deal 25-plus whilst aged 50 and over.
	Information on participants on the options stage of new deal 25-plus is available only for participants of the post-April 2001 enhanced programme.
	Participation on the options stage of new deal 25-plus is voluntary for people aged 50 and over, unless they live in an area which is piloting mandatory participation in this stage for people aged 50 and over.
	Starts to options relate to a person's first start to an option during an individual spell on new deal. A person may start more than one option during an individual spell on new deal 25-plus.
	Figures are cumulative to August 2005.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	Information Directorate DWP

Post Office Network

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what public services which are provided by his Department are made available by the post office network.

James Plaskitt: A number of services relating to the payment of benefits and pensions are made available through the post office network.
	Customers who receive their payments by direct payment into a post office card account collect their money from post offices and many customers who have their payments made into a bank or building society account can also use the post office network to access their money.
	Customers who cannot be paid by direct payment are paid by cheque. Through the Department's relationship with the Alliance and Leicester Commercial Bank Plc, cheque payments with a value of less than £450.00 can be cashed at post office branches. The Department also has a contract with Post Office Ltd to ensure that customers can continue to receive cheque payments in the event of disruption to normal delivery services.

Social Fund Community Care Grant Schemes

Emily Thornberry: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions when he expects to make an announcement on the level of funding available for the Social Fund Community Care Grant scheme in 2006–07.

James Plaskitt: We will make an announcement, by way of a written statement to the House, towards the end of March on the level of funding available for the Social Fund Community Care Grant scheme in 2006–07.

TREASURY

Africa (Debt Repayments)

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net flow of resources between the United Kingdom and Africa was when the bilateral debt repayments from all African countries to the United Kingdom are subtracted from the United Kingdom aid budget to Africa excluding debt cancellation for (a) the 2005 calendar year and (b) financial year 2004–05; and what the expected figure is for 2005–06.

Ivan Lewis: In fiscal year 2004–05 the UK's bilateral assistance to Africa amounted to £970 million. The UK also gave very considerable sums of money via multilateral agencies, however the data are not disaggregated to show how much went to Africa. The estimated figure for the UK's bilateral assistance to Africa for fiscal year 2005–06 is £1 billion.
	During fiscal year 2004–05, the UK received official bilateral debt payments from countries in Africa amounting to approximately £152.8 million. The UK also wrote off almost £351.6 million of African official bilateral debt in 2004–05. During fiscal year 2005–06, the UK expects to receive official bilateral debt payments from countries in Africa amounting to approximately £1,112.5 million. The UK expects to write off almost £1,143.3 million of African official bilateral debt in 2005–06.

Benzodiazepines

John Grogan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in which benzodiazepines abuse was given as a (a) cause and (b) factor occurred in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in which benzodiazepines' abuse was given as a (a) cause and (b) factor occurred in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (47324)
	Abuse of benzodiazepines is not separately identified as a cause of death using the International Classification of Diseases. The attached table shows the number of deaths where benzodiazepines were mentioned on the death certificate and the underlying cause was drug poisoning, for the ten years 1994 to 2003, the most recent year for which figures are available. These figures are produced from a special database which contains deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning. Figures readily available from death certification relate to deaths due to drug poisoning, not the total number that were attributable to drug use.
	
		Number of deaths from drug-related poisoning(18) where benzodiazepines were mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 1994–2003(19)
		
			 Calendar year Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1994 279 
			 1995 253 
			 1996 230 
			 1997 248 
			 1998 245 
			 1999 240 
			 2000 207 
			 2001 222 
			 2002 242 
			 2003 211 
		
	
	(18) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14.
	(19) Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	Source:
	Table 2 of the annual report: " Deaths related to drug poisoning: England and Wales, 1999–2003 , published in Health Statistics Quarterly 25 in February 2005.

Citizens Juries

Michael Wills: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions his Department consulted citizens' juries on departmental policies in the last five years; in how many of those consultations the recommendations of the citizens' jury differed from existing departmental policy; and on how many occasions departmental policy was changed to reflect the recommendations of the citizens' jury.

John Healey: This information is not held centrally in Treasury and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Civil Servants (Overseas Visits)

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what costs were incurred by his Department as a result of sending civil servants on overseas visits in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: I refer to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Southend, West (Mr. Amess) on 15 December 2005, Official Report, column 2272W.

Colon Cancer Deaths

David Gauke: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths occurred in the United Kingdom in 2005 as a consequence of colon cancer.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question concerning how many deaths occurred in the United Kingdom in 2005 as a consequence of colon cancer. I am replying in her absence. (46188)
	The most recently available information is for deaths in 2004. There were 10,333 deaths where the underlying cause was malignant neoplasm of the colon 1 in the United Kingdom.2
	Yours sincerely
	1 Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) code CIS.
	2 Data for England and Wales are for deaths occurring in the calendar year. Data for Scotland and Northern Ireland are for deaths registered in the calendar year.

Departmental Website

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the cost of maintaining his main departmental website was for the last year for which figures are available; and how many visitors there were to the site in each of the last 12 months.

John Healey: The cost of maintaining the main HM Treasury website for the financial year 2004–2005 was £123,133. The visitor numbers for each of the last 12 months are as follows:
	
		
			 Date Number of unique visits 
		
		
			 January 2005 91,710 
			 February 2005 96,022 
			 March 2005 141,507 
			 April 2005 101,113 
			 May 2005 100,699 
			 June 2005 93,244 
			 July 2005 79,419 
			 August 2005 77,768 
			 September 2005 94,514 
			 October 2005 105,491 
			 November 2005 113,712 
			 December 2005 120,005 
		
	
	The term unique visits, refers to the number of different visitors logged during this period. These figures do not include repeat visitors nor do they differentiate between different users coming from behind a shared firewall.

Departmental Staff

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many departmental employees have taken early retirement due to ill-health in each of the past five years for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information for HM Treasury is shown as follows:
	
		
			  Number 
		
		
			 2000 0 
			 2001 1 
			 2002 0 
			 2003 1 
			 2004 2 
			 2005 1

Earnings

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many and what percentage of (a) male, (b) female and (c) all (i) employees, (ii) full-time employees and (iii) part-time employees in (A) Scotland, (B) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (C) the United Kingdom had weekly gross earnings including overtime below (1) £285.71, (2) £214.50 and (3) £181.87 in the last period for which figures are available.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question asking how many and what percentage of (a) male, (b) female and (c) all (i) employees, (ii) full-time employees and (iii) part-time employees in (A) Scotland, (B) each of the unitary local authority areas in Scotland and (C) the United Kingdom had weekly gross earnings including overtime below (1) £285.71, (2) £214.50 and (3) £181.87 in the last period for which figures are available. I am replying in her absence. (46142)
	Currently average earnings are estimated from the Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE), and are provided for all employees, full time employees and part-time employees on adult rates whose pay for the survey period was not affected by absence. This is the standard definition used for ASHE. The ASHE does not collect data on the self employed and people who do unpaid work.
	I am placing in the House of Commons Library, tables showing proportions of gross weekly earnings for all employees, males and females in Scotland, unitary local authorities in Scotland and the UK.
	The ASHE, carried out in April of each year, is the most comprehensive source of earnings information in the United Kingdom. It is a one per cent sample of all employees who are members of pay-as-you-earn (PAYE) schemes.

Economic Activity (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to increase the rate of economic activity in Milton Keynes.

John Healey: The Government have put in place policies that will raise the trend rate of growth for all English regions and local areas, including Milton Keynes. For instance, as one of the Government's four housing growth areas, Milton Keynes is benefiting from significant new investment in infrastructure and through further regeneration of brownfield sites.
	GVA—gross value added—statistics show that between 1989, when comparable regional records began, to 2004, the South East enjoyed the highest increase in economic growth per head of all the English regions. It is also experiencing historically low unemployment levels. Unemployment has fallen in the region by 38,000 (17.7 per cent.) since 1997.

Electoral Administration

Jim Devine: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in each ward in Livingston constituency are over 18 years; and how many of these are on the electoral register in each ward.

John Healey: This question is a devolved matter, in this case the responsibility of the Registrar General for Scotland.

Emigration

Grant Shapps: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people emigrated from the UK in each year from 2000, broken down by constituency in which they lived at the time of emigration.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent Parliamentary Question about how many people emigrated from the UK in each year from 2000, broken down by constituency in which they lived at the time of emigration. I am replying in her absence. (47618)
	Emigration estimates are not available at the level of Parliamentary constituency. They are based mainly on the International Passenger Survey (IPS), thus, sample size restricts the level for which reliable estimates can be produced. The lowest level of detail for which National Statistics emigration estimates are published is constituent country within the UK and Government Office Region in England. These data are available in the annual reference volume International Migration 2003, Series MN NO 30, available at:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Productasp?vlnk=507

Government Spending (Tax Revenue)

Linda Riordan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on using tax revenue sourced from particular taxes for particular areas of Government spending.

Des Browne: The primary aim of tax policy is to raise sufficient revenue for Government to pay for public services. In some cases, where the Government are raising revenue for a specific purpose, it is appropriate to reinforce the purpose of the tax measure by linking it to the spending which it finances.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

John Healey: The Treasury did not specifically celebrate Hanukkah or mark Yom Kippur in 2005.
	The Treasury, however, has taken a range of positive steps to promote faith awareness in the Department including awareness raising articles in the staff magazine, the provision of a prayer room and flexibility in leave arrangements so that staff can celebrate religious holidays and observe religious obligations.
	In addition, the Treasury Staff Code clearly details employees' obligations under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.

Manufacturing Productivity

John Bercow: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the rate of growth of manufacturing productivity has been in each year since 1998.

John Healey: The annual growth rates since 1998 of manufacturing productivity on an output per job basis, the ONS' headline measure, is presented in the following table.
	
		
			  Percentage 
			  Annual productivity growth 
		
		
			 1998 1.2 
			 1999 4.4 
			 2000 6.3 
			 2001 3.5 
			 2002 1.5 
			 2003 4.5 
			 2004 6.2 
			   
			 1998 to 2004 29.4

Ministry of Defence Budget (Tax Revenue)

Linda Riordan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of tax revenue was allocated to the Ministry of Defence budget in (a) 2003–04, (b) 2004–05 and (c) 2005–06.

Des Browne: The Defence budget as a percentage of current receipts for the years in question is as follows:
	
		
			  2003–04 (Outturn) 2004–05 (Outturn) 2005–06 (Estimate) 
		
		
			 Current Receipts ( Billion) 418.7 448.4 483.0 
			 Defence near-cash budget (Billion) 25.8 27.0 28.15 
			 Defence near-cash budget expressed as a percentage of Current Receipts 6.2 6.0 5.8 
		
	
	Figures for the Defence near cash budget do not include the net additional cost of military operations (e.g. in Iraq and Afghanistan), which are met separately from the Treasury reserve. The net additional cost of operations was £1.6 Billion in 2003–04 and £1.1 Billion in 2004–05.

Population Estimates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations (a) his Department and (b) the Office for National Statistics has received on the accuracy of mid-year population estimates.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question regarding what representations the a) Treasury and b) the Office for National Statistics has received on the accuracy of mid-year population estimates. I am replying in her absence. (46964)
	A number of queries are received each year following the August publication of annual mid-year population estimates. These queries range from general points of clarification to questions regarding the accuracy of the estimates. The following is a list of authorities that have written in with concerns about the accuracy of their 2004 population estimates:
	Greater London Authority
	Cambridgeshire
	Copeland
	East Cambridgeshire
	Forest Heath
	Hampshire
	Mid Bedfordshire
	South Tyneside
	Slough
	Southend
	Suffolk
	Telford & Wrekin Council
	In addition to these Local Authorities, queries concerning the accuracy of the estimates have also been received from:
	Commission for Racial Equality
	Art Beyond Belief (Slough)
	Haymill Association of Resident & Tenants (Slough)
	Kedderminister Tenants & Residents Association (Slough)
	Slough Age Concern
	Slough Business Community Partnership
	Slough Citizen's Advice Bureau
	Slough Council for Voluntary Service
	Slough Supported Tenants Action Group
	One member of the public (Slough)
	Finally Mr Adam Afriyie MP asked two Parliamentary Questions in this area (ref: 38552 and 38558).
	This includes correspondence dealt with by Her Majesty's Treasury (HMT). I am not aware of any additional correspondence with HMT that has not been passed on to ONS.

Population Estimates

Caroline Spelman: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment the Office for National Statistics has made of the reasons other than population changes why mid-year population estimates differ from the 2001 national census.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the national statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your question about what assessment the Office for National Statistics has made of the reasons, other than population changes, why mid-year population estimates differ from the 2001 Census. I am replying in her absence. (46965)
	As a result of changes in society, which include increased mobility and different living arrangements, it is becoming increasingly difficult to estimate the size of the population. Substantial work has been done on the difference between mid-year population estimates and the 2001 Census. This work is summarised in the final report of the 2004 Local Authority Population Studies, which can be found here: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/LAStudy_FullReport.pdf This document provides further links to other detailed reports.
	Work undertaken includes:
	An initial assessment of accuracy of the mid-year population estimates;
	A revised allowance for under-enumeration in the 1991 Census;
	The Longitudinal Study Adjustment for young men (and other minor changes); and
	The Local Authority Population Studies.
	These studies confirmed that the 2001 Census had worked well in most areas, but there were a few cases where it was not able to adjust sufficiently for exceptional circumstances. This work, together with revised international migration estimates, accounted for a large proportion of the initial 1.1 million difference between mid year estimates and the Census; reducing the difference to a little over 0.2 million
	Further information on population estimates can be found in the detailed methodology guide to 'Making a population estimate in England and Wales'. This is published here: http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=575
	ONS is now investing substantially in a project to Improve Migration and Population Statistics (IMPS). (More information on this project can be found here: www.statistics.gov.uk/IMPS). The key aims of this project are to reduce the size of the difference between population estimates and mid-year estimates for 2011 when the next Census is undertaken and to better understand any difference that does remain.
	As part of this project we are currently undertaking work to quality assure the mid-year estimates against a range of administrative sources.

Tobacco

Greg Hands: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much duty has been collected from tobacco products in each of the last five years.

John Healey: Excise duty receipts for tobacco products can be found in Table 3 the HM Revenue and Customs 'Tobacco Bulletin', which is available from HM Revenue and Customs website at:
	http://www.uktradeinfo.com/index.cfm?task=bulltobac

HEALTH

Agency Staff (Lancashire)

Nigel Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the cost of agency (a) nurses and (b) doctors in Lancashire Teaching NHS Trust has been in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested and shown in the table is only available since 2003 when the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals National Health Service Trust was formed.
	
		Lancashire teaching hospital NHS found trust
		
			   £000 
			  Medical Nursing, Midwifery and health visiting 
		
		
			 2002–03 1,035 1,268 
			 2003–04 1,479 1,531 
			 2004–05 1,226 1,090 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual Financial Returns of NHS Trusts

Ambulance Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her plans are for the regionalisation of ambulance services in Bexhill and Battle; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England: Consultation Document" sets out the proposed new ambulance trusts on which we are currently consulting. This includes the proposal for a new trust, referred to in the document as South East A, which would cover the areas covered by the current Sussex, Kent and Surrey ambulance trusts, if the proposals are agreed. However, no decision has been made, or will be, until consultation has been concluded.
	A copy of Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England: Consultation Document" is available in the Library. I also refer the hon. Member to the ministerial statement on this consultation I made on 14 December 2005, Official Report, columns 151–53WS.

Ambulance Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when she will announce the results of the public consultation into the regionalisation of the ambulance services in Sussex.

Caroline Flint: A 14-week consultation on the future configuration of ambulance services commenced on 14 December 2005, to run until 22 March 2006. No decision has been made, or will be, until consultation has been concluded. We will announce our decision once the consultation has concluded, after due consideration of responses received.

Aspartame

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State forHealth what regulations her Department has issued in relation to aspartame; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995, as amended, implement European Union legislation (Directive 94/35/EC) on sweeteners, including aspartame, which are permitted to be used in food.

Audiology (South-West Region)

John Penrose: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what the average waiting time was for each primary care trust in the south west region for audiology-related treatment in the last period for which figures are available;
	(2)  how many patients are waiting for audiology-related treatment in each primary care trust in the south west region.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not held centrally.

BCG Inoculations

John Redwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Health for what reasons she has cancelled BCG inoculation programmes administered in schools.

Caroline Flint: The reasons for the change to the Bacille Calmette Guerin vaccination policy were given in the chief medical officer's letter to the profession dated 6 July 2005. A copy of this letter is available in the Library.

Child Obesity

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what national target she has set for halting the rise in obesity of children under 11 years in each year to 2010.

Caroline Flint: A public service agreement target specifically on obesity has been set in July 2004 halting the year-on-year rise in obesity among children aged under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole". No year-on-year targets up to 2010 have been set.

Dentistry

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) dental nurses, (b) dental hygienists and (c) dental therapists were employed in West Lancashire in each year since 1997.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is not available in the format requested. However, the table shows the data for dental therapists.
	
		NHS hospital and community health services: Qualified dental therapists in the Cumbria and Lancashire Strategic Health Authority area by organisation as at 30 September each specified year
		
			 Full-time equivalent 
			   1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA  1 2 3 3 2 6 13 19 
			 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust REU — 1 2 2 — — n/a n/a 
			 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT 5G8 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 1 10 
			 Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust RJU n/a n/a — 0 0 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Communicare NHS Trust RME — — 1 1 1 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Eden Valley PCT 5D5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 3 4 — 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust RXN n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 0 0 0 
			 North Lakeland Healthcare NHS Trust RLF 1 1 1 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Preston PCT 5HD n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 8 8 
		
	
	
		
			  Headcount 
			   1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Cumbria and Lancashire SHA  1 3 4 5 3 8 20 25 
			 Burnley Healthcare NHS Trust REU — 2 2 2 — — n/a n/a 
			 Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale PCT 5G8 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 1 11 
			 Chorley and South Ribble NHS Trust RJU n/a n/a — 1 1 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Communicare NHS Trust RME — — 1 1 1 n/a n/a n/a 
			 Eden Valley PCT 5D5 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 4 5 — 
			 Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust RXN n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 1 1 
			 North Lakeland Healthcare NHS Trust RLF 1 1 1 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Preston PCT 5HD n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 2 13 13 
		
	
	'—' = zero
	n/a = not applicable
	Note:
	Full-time equivalent figures are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census.

Healthy Living Centre (Stroud)

David Drew: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will open a healthy living centre in Stroud constituency.

Caroline Flint: Healthy living centres (HLCs) are funded by the Big Lottery Fund (BLF) and by local partnerships. All the grants by BLF for HLCs were awarded by the end of 2002 and there are no plans for further awards.

Homeopathy

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued on the use of homeopathy.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has produced some clinical guidelines that included reference to complementary and alternative therapies alongside more conventional approaches. NICE'S current assessment of smoking cessation interventions will also include consideration of complementary therapies, and departmental officials will discuss with NICE how the clinical guidelines workprogramme could, where appropriate, include complementary therapies.
	The Government also commissioned the Foundation for Integrated Health to produce 'Complementary Healthcare: a guide for patients', published in January 2005, which includes information on homeopathy.

Hospital Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients were (a) treated at and (b) admitted to (i) Barnet and (ii) Chase Farm hospitals with the 98 percent.-within-four hours target as of (A) 31 December 2004 and (B) 31 December 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The data requested are not collected in the format requested.
	The total time and wait for admission data for Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust for the quarters ending in the periods requested are shown in the table. The four hour target applies to the total time spent in accident and emergency (A and E)—this is the time from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. There is no separate target for admissions.
	
		A and E activity and performance, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, October to December (Q3) 2004–05 and 2005–06
		
			  2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in A and E 87.1 94.9 
			 Percentage of patients placed in bed in a ward within four hours of a decision to admit 90.3 91.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health dataset QMAE for 2004–05 data and Department of Health dataset SitReps for 2005–06 data (Quarter three).

Influenza Vaccine

Lee Scott: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many doses of influenza vaccine are available.

Caroline Flint: There are currently 200,000 doses of seasonal flu vaccine available from the Department's contingency stock.

Maternity Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the caesarean rate has been in each of the last five years at Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust.

Liam Byrne: Deliveries by caesarean section 1 as a percentage of all deliveries at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital National Health Service Trust, are shown in the table.
	1 As recorded using procedure code.
	
		
			  Percentage 
		
		
			 1999–2000 18 
			 2000–01 18 
			 2001–02 21 
			 2002–03 23 
			 2003–04 23 
		
	
	Source:
	Hospital Episode Statistics, NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre.

Maternity Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many midwives (a) as a headcount and (b) as full-time equivalents have been employed by Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the midwifery vacancy rate for Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust has been in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Health and social care information centre vacancies survey, NHS three month qualified midwife vacancies for Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy (number) Staff in post (full-time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust RVY 
			 March 2000 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 1999 — — 88 109 
			 March 2001 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2000 — — 103 150 
			  
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust RVY 
			 March 2002 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2001 — — 94 127 
			 March 2003 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2002 — — 90 113 
			  
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust RVY 
			 March 2004 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2003 — — 93 116 
			 March 2005 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2004 — — 93 116 
		
	
	Notes:
	Three month vacancy notes:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each specified year.
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents).
	3. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September each specified year.
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	Staff in post notes:
	1 Staff in post data are from the non-medical workforce census September each specified year
	General notes:
	1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	Source:
	Health and social care information centre vacancies survey
	Health and social care information centre non-medical workforce census.

Maternity Services

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many midwife-led birthing centres there are in Milton Keynes.

Caroline Flint: The information requested is not collected centrally by the Department.

Maternity Services

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will make a statement on the role of supervisors of midwives.

Liam Byrne: The role of supervisors of midwives is one of public protection ensuring that the standard of midwifery practice in their locality is maintained, that midwives have the correct equipment and skills to perform their role and that the quality of their practice is monitored. In practice, the role is one of providing professional support for midwives in overcoming professional dilemmas and enabling them to perform their role in an environment conducive to positive outcomes.

NHS Structure

Stephen O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Health if she will break down by parliamentary constituency all (a) strategic health authority areas, (b) primary care trusts and (c) NHS trusts.

Liam Byrne: This information is available on the Department's website at:
	www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics/FreedomOfInformation/ClassesOfInformation/NHSFactsheets/fs/en.
	A table listing this information has been placed in the Library.

Nurses (Hammersmith and Fulham)

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many (a) agency and (b) NHS nurses were employed by the NHS in the borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in the last year for which figures are available; and what the total cost was of each category of nurse in that year.

Jane Kennedy: This information is not collected in the format requested.
	However, table 1 shows all national health service qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, including practice nurses employed in Hammersmith and Fulham primary care trust (PCT) and Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust as at September 2004. Figures for the number of agency staff employed by the NHS are not collected centrally.
	Table 2 shows the cost for each category of nurse for 2004–05 in Hammersmith and Fulham PCT and Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust.
	
		Table 1: All NHS qualified nursing, midwifery and health visiting staff, including practice nurses employed by Unrestricted Principals and equivalents (UPEs)(20), in each specified trust as at 30 September 2004
		
			 headcount 
			of which: 
			   Total qualified nursing staff GP practice nurse Bank staff 
		
		
			 Total specified organisations  2,447 45 341 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 5H1 237 45 32 
			 Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust RQN 2,210 0 309 
		
	
	(20) UPEs include GMS Unrestricted Principals, PMS Contracted GPs and PMS Salaried GPs
	Source:
	Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census
	Health and Social Care Information Centre General and Personal Medical Services Statistics
	
		Table 2: Costs for each category of nurse in Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust and Hammersmith and Fulham PCT, 2004–05
		
			  £000 
			  Nurse consultants Nurse managers Qualified Unqualified Nursing, midwifery and health visiting 
		
		
			 Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust 134 2,175 67,669 3,276 4,586 
			 Hammersmith and Fulham PCT 0 290 6350 1,042 686 
		
	
	Source:
	Annual financial returns of primary care trusts

Organ Donation

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps her Department is taking (a) to encourage organ donation and (b) to raise the profile of the online organ donation register.

Rosie Winterton: Nearly 13 million people have registered on the organ donor register (ODR), 22 per cent. of the United Kingdom population. The Department gives around £1 million yearly to the NHS blood and transport (NHSBT) to run the ODR and to promote transplantation and also provides section 64 grants to a number of charities. Specific initiatives include funding through NHSBT to support hospital based initiatives. I recently wrote to all Members of Parliament to ask them to help raise awareness within their constituencies, and the Prime Minister also hosted a reception to celebrate the success of transplantation. Online registration initiatives include Oran-ise, an online game to encourage students to register, and nearly 50 web-based campaigns run by national health service organisations, further education establishments and professional organisations.

Poultry Inspections

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps the Meat Hygiene Services is taking to ensure that from 1 January its official veterinary surgeons assume line management supervision of poultry inspection assistants as required under the EU Hygiene Package.

Caroline Flint: There has been no change in the supervision requirements of plant inspection assistants, now food business operator establishment staff, following the implementation of the European Union hygiene regulations.
	Official Veterinarians remain responsible for the technical supervision of these staff.

Poultry Inspections

David Taylor: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what test poultry inspection assistants in post before 1 January were required to pass before they were permitted to inspect poultry meat.

Caroline Flint: There was no legislative requirement to carry out a specific test prior to authorisation, however, an ongoing assessment was carried during the training period.
	After receiving the required training for plant inspections assistants as set out in Regulation 11 of the Poultry Meat, Farmed Game Bird Meat and Rabbit Meat (Hygiene and Inspection) Regulations 1995, revoked 31 December 2005, and in the light of the guidance given in the Meat Hygiene Service operations manual, the Official Veterinary Surgeon assessed the competency, both theoretical and practical, of the plant inspection assistants.
	Once the Official Veterinary Surgeon was satisfied that a candidate was competent, s/he would certify an application for authorisation.

Private Finance Initiative Schemes

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what sign offs are required before a guarantee can be provided by her Department for private finance initiative schemes for NHS foundation trusts;
	(2)  how much has been guaranteed by her Department for the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust private finance initiative scheme;
	(3)  what the current status is of the proposed University Hospital Birmingham private finance initiative rebuild; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The trust's full business case (FBC) has been submitted to the Department for approval; the trust is currently clarifying a number of points which have been raised by the Department. Subject to approval by the Department, the FBC will be forwarded to HM Treasury for approval by officials and Ministers.
	In common with other foundation trust private finance initiative (PFI) schemes with a capital value in excess of £10 million, the Secretary of State for Health, the PFI consortium and its funders will sign a deed of safeguard prior to financial close. The effect of the deed of safeguard is to make the Secretary of State liable should the trust be unable to meet its payments to the operator of the PFI scheme.

Radiographers

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many radiographers were employed in Southport and Orsmkirk in each year since 1997; and whether there are any vacancies at present.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the tables.
	
		National health service hospital and community health services: qualified radiography staff employed by specified organisations by area of work as at 30 September each specified year
		
			 Headcount 
			  1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 
		
		
			 Total specified organisations 57 58 53 57 64 62 60 62 
			 Qualified radiography (diagnostic) staff 57 58 53 56 64 62 60 62 
			 Qualified radiography (therapuetic) staff — — — 1 — — — — 
			  
			 Southport and Formby NHS Trust 31 35 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Qualified radiography (diagnostic) staff 31 35 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  
			 West Lancashire NHS Trust 26 23 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			 Qualified radiography (diagnostic) staff 26 23 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a 
			  
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust(21) n/a n/a 53 57 64 62 60 62 
			 Qualified radiography (diagnostic) staff n/a n/a 53 56 64 62 60 (52 
			 Qualified radiography (therapuetic) staff n/a n/a — 1 — — — — 
		
	
	'—' = zero
	n/a = not applicable
	(21) Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust was formed by the merger of Southport and Formby NHS Trust and West Lancashire NHS Trust in 1999.
	Source:
	NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census
	
		Health and Social Care Information Centre Vacancies Survey March 2005—NHS three month qualified radiography vacancies in Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust—three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  Diagnostic radiography Therapeutic radiography 
		
		
			 March 2005   
			 Three month vacancy rate (percentage) 6.0 — 
			 Three month vacancy number 3 0 
			  
			 September 2004   
			 (Staff in post) full-time equivalent 47 0 
			 (Staff in post) headcount 62 0 
		
	
	Notes:
	Three month vacancy:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March 2004.
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents).
	3. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2004.
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place
	Staff in post:
	1. Staff in post data are from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September 2004.
	General:
	1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	Source:
	1. NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Vacancies Survey 2005.
	2. NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre Non-Medical Workforce Census 2004.

Residential Drug Rehabilitation Places

Humfrey Malins: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many residential drug rehabilitation places were available in England in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Caroline Flint: We do not have an annual record of residential rehabilitation places for the last five years.
	The National Treatment Agency (NTA) launched a residential directory on 8 August 2003, and an online bed vacancy directory BEDVACS started on 23 April 2004. There is no record of any information until 1 February 2005. On 1 February 2005, there were 118 English residential rehabilitation units with a total of 2,498 beds. Currently the directory lists 119 English residential rehabilitation units with a total of 2,530 beds.

Reverse Therapy

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what research her Department has (a) commissioned, (b) funded and (c) evaluated into reverse therapy in relation to (i) myalgic encephalomyelitis and (ii) Gulf War illnesses; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The Department has not commissioned, funded or evaluated research into the use of reverse therapy in the treatment of myalgic encephalomyelitis or Gulf War syndrome.

Sheep Meat (Radioactive Contamination)

Gordon Prentice: To ask the Secretary of State for Health whether restrictions in place to prevent contaminated sheep meat entering the human food chain in areas of the countryside affected by radioactive contamination following Chernobyl have been lifted.

Caroline Flint: Restrictions on the sale, movement and slaughter of sheep, arising from the Chernobyl nuclear accident, remain in place in limited areas of Cumbria and Scotland, plus parts of North Wales. The last restrictions in place in Northern Ireland were removed in April 2000. The following table shows the numbers of farms and estimated sheep numbers remaining under restriction, as of 1 January 2006.
	
		
			  Farms Sheep 
		
		
			 England 9 6,600 
			 Wales 355 176,000 
			 Scotland 11 18,000 
			 Total 375 200,600

Smoking

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what national targets she has set for reducing the percentage of pregnant women who smoke.

Caroline Flint: The 1998 White Paper, Smoking Kills", sets a specific national target for smoking during pregnancy, to reduce the percentage of women who smoke during pregnancy from 23 percent. to 15 percent. by the year 2010; with a fall to 18 percent. by the year 2005". The latest data used to monitor this target comes from the infant feeding survey, which takes place every five years. The results for 2000 show that, in England, 19 percent., of pregnant women smoked. Results for 2005 are due in 2007.

Smoking

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much smoking-related illnesses have cost the NHS in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The latest data on the cost to the national health service of treating illness and disease caused by smoking is estimated to cost between £1.4 billion to £1.7 billion every year in terms of general practitioner visits, prescriptions, treatment and operations.

Surrey and Sussex NHS Healthcare Trust

Crispin Blunt: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much per day the turnaround team at the Surrey and Sussex NHS healthcare trust will cost (a) the trust, (b) the strategic health authority and (c) central departmental funds.

Caroline Flint: holding answer 30 January 2006
	The turnaround teams were announced by the Secretary of State in a written ministerial statement on 1 December 2005, Official Report, columns 36–37WS. The teams will comprise of experts with a mix of commercial and national health service turnaround skills.
	The first stage of this is a baseline assessment, the aim of which is to ensure there is an agreed understanding of the local financial problem and that actions are in hand to address this.
	The contract for the baseline assessment was awarded to consultants KPMG. Surrey and Sussex healthcare NHS trust's assessment was included in this assessment. The value of this contract is commercial in confidence.
	Following the baseline assessment a tailored package of turnaround support will be agreed by the local NHS. This will be paid for by the local NHS. I do not hold details of these agreements.

Tuna (Mercury Levels)

Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent assessment she has made of the level of mercury in (a) tinned tuna and (b) tinned yellowfin tuna.

Caroline Flint: A survey published by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) in 2003 found that the mean level of mercury in canned tuna sold in the United Kingdom was 0.19 milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg). All the samples were below the statutory limit for mercury in tuna of one mg/kg. The only sample of canned yellowfin in the survey had one of the lowest mercury levels found in canned tuna (0.05 mg/kg). The FSA advice is that pregnant women and women who intend to become pregnant should limit their consumption of tuna to no more than four medium size cans per week or two fresh tuna steaks.

Vulnerable Adults

Andrew Lansley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many individuals are on the protection of vulnerable adults list;
	(2)  how many referrals have been made to the protection of vulnerable adults list since it was established; and how many referrals have resulted in a name being added to the list.

Liam Byrne: The legislation underpinning the operation of the protection of vulnerable adults (POVA) list is the Care Standards Act 2000, which sets out the criteria for referring people to the list and for deciding whether to include a person on the list. As at 31 December 2005, the latest date for which figures are available, there have been 3,448 referrals made to the POVA list, which was established on 26 July 2004.
	Overall, there are 288 individuals confirmed as being unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults and they have been placed on the list. There are also 1,228 people provisionally listed who are subject to further investigations and cannot work in a regulated social care position in the interim.

Waiting Times

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the (a) average and (b) longest waiting time was for an out-patient appointment at each of the hospitals run by Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust in the last year for which figures are available.

Jane Kennedy: The Department does not hold the information in the format requested.
	However, the table shows waiting times for first out-patient appointments following general practitioner written referrals, for Hammersmith hospitals national health service trust, for each quarter from December 2004 to September 2005.
	
		Waiting times for first out-patient appointment following GP written referral, Hammersmith hospitals NHS trust
		
			  Effective length of wait from receipt of GP written referral request to first out-patient attendance (weeks) 
			 Quarter 0 to <4 4 to <13 13 to <17 17 to <21 21 plus Median wait (weeks) 
		
		
			 December 2004 3,706 4,461 2,048 0 0 6.8 
			 March 2005 3,493 4,461 2,433 0 0 7.4 
			 June 2005 3,290 3,953 2,173 0 0 7.2 
			 September 2005 4,021 4,939 2,127 3 0 6.8 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health form QM08